238  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Engineer  Randall  died  twenty  minutes  after,  and  his  was 
the  only  life  lost  in  the  operation  before  Manila. 

The  Raleigh,  which  was  steaming  along  third  in  line, 
had  the  honor  of  firing  the  first  shot  in  anger  on  our  side. 
One  of  her  5-inch  guns  returned  a  ready  response  to  the 
Spaniards'  tardy  salutation,  and  presently  the  Boston  fol 
lowed  suit.  Then  another  shot  came  from  the  shore  bat 
teries,  and  as  our  ships  were  on  the  close  lookout  for  the 
flash  the  Concord  placed  the  6-inch  shell  so  exactly  over 
the  spot  whence  the  enemy  had  fired  that  we  felt  confi 
dent  of  its  good  results.  We  heard  afterward  that  this 
shell  had  burst  among  the  Spanish  gunners,  killing  sev 
eral,  and  if  this  report  be  true  it  was  a  marvelous  shot. 
At  any  rate,  there  were  no  more  shots  fired  from  shore, 
and  as  the  Commodore  did  not  want  to  waste  time  on 
the  batteries  the  squadron  kept  on  its  course. 

Speed  was  now  reduced  to  less  than  three  knots,  as 
there  was  no  haste.  The  Commodore  wished  to  arrive  off 
Manila  at  the  first  break  of  dawn,  but  not  earlier.  The 
men  were  ordered  to  lie  down  beside  their  guns  to  get 
what  sleep  they  could,  and  the  very  strictest  lookout  was 
kept  for  the  enemy's  ships  and  torpedo  boats. 

At  four  o'clock  coffee  and  hardtack  were  served  to  the 
men,  and  the  officers  were  glad  to  get  the  same  frugal 
provender.  The  lights  of  Manila  had  long  been  in  sight, 
and  Lieutenant  Calkins,  the  navigator,  knew  his  position 
to  a  nicety.  Indeed,  much  of  the  success  of  this  bold 
entry  to  Manila  Bay  by  night  was  due  to  the  skill  and 
judgment  of  the  navigator,  who  continued  his  patient  and 
harassing  labors  all  through  the  battle  with  never-failing 


THE   BATTLE  OF  MANILA  BAY 


239 


accuracy  and  success.  It  should  be  remembered  that  nav 
igating  a  harbor  that  is  well  lighted  and  buoyed  is  not 
always  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world,  and  in  this  case 
Lieutenant  Calkins  had  no  lights  or  range  marks  to  guide 
him.  I  am  informed  that  special  mention  of  this  officer  was 
made  in  the  official  dispatches,  and  he  certainly  deserved  it. 
The  dawn  began  about  half-past  four  o'clock,  when  we 
were  almost  six  miles  from  Manila.  As  the  sun  came  up 


THE  FLAG  OF  CAVITE.     CAPTURED  BY  THE  AMERICANS 

exactly  behind  the  city,  the  shadow  cast  by  the  land  ob 
scured  the  harbor  foreground.  Finally  we  made  out  the 
presence  of  a  group  of  vessels  in  the  port,  but  before  five 
o'clock  we  were  able  to  recognize  them  as  merchant  ships. 
Our  cruisers  were  now  in  close  battle  order,  the  flag 
ship  leading,  followed  by  the  Baltimore,  the  Raleigh,  the 
Petrel,  the  Concord,  and  the  Boston.  We  had  passed  to  the 
northward  of  Manila,  and  were  holding  to  the  south,  when 
we  sighted  the  Spanish  squadron  in  the  little  bay  of  Ca- 
vite  (pronounced  "Kahveetay,"  if  you  please,  with  a  marked 


LIBKAKi 

UNIVERSITY  Of  CALIFO 


THE  UFE- AND  LETTER^ 
.OF- ADMIRAL-  DEWEY 


FROM  MONTPEUER TO  MANILA 

^y  CONTAINING  REPRODUCTIONS  IN  FAC-SIMILE  ^ 
OFHITttERTO  UNPUBLISHED  LETTERS  OF  GEORGE 
DEWEY  DURING  THE  ADMI  RAL'S  NAVAL  CA 
REER  AND  EXTRACTS  FROM  HIS  LOG-BOOK 

BY 

ADELBERTM.DEWEY 

ASSISTED  BY  MEMBERS  OFTHE  IMMEDIATE  FAMILY  OF 
ADMIRAL  GEORGE  DEWEY  AT  MONTPELIER  VERMONT 


EMBELLISHED  WITH  OVER 
TWO  HUNDRED  AND  HfTY  ILLUSTRATIONS 

AUTHORIZED    EDITION 


1837 


f^^y~^\  A^scv«v 

VNEWWRR)  WOOLFALL ^MDccomJ 

^-  -^  COMPANY^"       4 


IQHVERSITY  Of  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


COPYRIGHT,  1899, 

BY 

F.  HARTLEY  WOOLFALL 


All  rights  and  translation  reserved 
Entered  ai  Stationers'1  Hall,  London,  Eng. 


The  illustrations  in  this  work,  from  orig 
inal  drawings  and  photographs,  are  protected 
by  copyright,  and  their  reproduction  in  any 
form  is  unlawful ;  and  notice  is  hereby  given 
that  anyone  guilty  of  infringing  the  copyright 
thereof  will  be  dealt  with  as  the  law  directs. 


ebication 


To  the  American  people,  to 
whom  George  Dewey,  of  Ver 
mont,  is  a  most  illustrious 
example,  and  to  the  many 
thousands  of  noble  men  and 
women  in  this  haven  for  the 
oppressed  of  all  the  v/orld,  in 
whose  veins  courses  the  blood 
of  THOMAS  DEWEY,  the  Set 
tler,  this  book  is  most  respect 
fully  dedicated  by  the  author. 


'-^>.^O 


INTRODUCTION 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

15 


CHAPTER  I 
MONTPELIEE 

The   Capital   of   the   Green   Mountain    State   and  the 

Birthplace  of  Admiral  George  Dewey     ...      21 


CHAPTER  II 
BIRTH  AND  CHILDHOOD 

Home  of  Dr.  Julius  Yemans  Dewey — Ante-Natal  In 
fluences— "The  Poor  Little  Child  of  a  Tar" 


39 


CHAPTER  III 
A  HAPPY  BOYHOOD 

Leader  in  All  Games  of  Sport  or  Mischief  —  His  First 
Cruise  —  School  Days  at  Montpelier — The  Pang- 
born  Incident 61 


PAGE 


6  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  IV 
NORWICH  UNIVERSITY 

Preparatory  School  of  the  Admiral— A  "Nursery  of 
Heroes "  —  Sketch  of  Its  Founder  and  of  George 
Dewey's  Preceptor 79 

CHAPTER  V 
THE  NA  VAL  ACADEMY 

Dewey  at  Annapolis — Cadet   Life   and  Discipline — A 

Critical  Period  in  the  Nation's  History          .        .     101 

CHAPTER  VI 
IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN 

Dewey's  Initial  Cruise  — Training  and  Discipline  Aboard 
the  "Wabash"  -First  Meeting  with  a  Spanish  Ves 
sel — Dewey  Showed  His  Colors  .  .  .  .125 

CHAPTER  VII 
t  DEWEY  IN  THE   CIVIL    WAR 

The  "Mississippi"  at  Port  Hudson — Marriage  to  Susie 
Goodwin  —  Career  in  Time  of  Peace  —  Prepara 
tions  for  the  Battle  of  Manila  .  .  .  .171 

CHAPTER  VIII 
THE  BATTLE  OF  MANILA   BAY 

Crushing  Defeat  of  the   Spanish  Navy  in  Philippine 

Waters— " Old  Glory"  Planted  on  Spanish  Soil   .     214 


CONTENTS  7 

PAGE 

CHAPTER  IX 

THE  ADMIRAL'S   OWN  STORY 
Description  of  the  Battle  as  Written  by  George  Dewey 
Himself — Battle  Was  Hard  Fought — Lessons  from 
the    Victory—  The    Engagement    as    Viewed    by 
United  States  Consul  Williams  at  Manila      .        .     246 

CHAPTER  X 

MO  N  TO  JO'S    VERSION  OF   THE  RATTLE 
The   Story  of  the  Battle  of   Manila  as   Told   by   the 
Defeated  Spanish  Admiral — An  Account  from  a 
Spanish  Newspaper 273 

CHAPTER  XI 
THE  FLEETS  COMPARED 

An  Official  Statement  of  the  Guns  and  Men  —  A  Brief 
Sketch  of  Each  of  the  Commanders  of  the  Ves 
sels  in  Admiral  Dewey's  Fleet  ....  299 

CHAPTER  XII 
OFFICIAL   STATEMENTS 

The  Part  Played  by  Each  of  the  Vessels  in  the  Amer 
ican  Squadron  as  Told  by  the  Commanding  and 
Executive  Officers  of  Admiral  Dewey's  Fleet  .  320 

CHAPTER  XIII 
HONORED  BY  STATE  AND  NATION 

Resolutions  of  Congress  —  Appointed  Rear- Admiral  by 
the  President  —  Presented  with  Historic   Flags  - 
Degrees    and   Medals  —  Admiral    of    the    Navy- 
Commended   by  His  Associates        ....     375 


8  CONTENTS 


PAGE 


CHAPTER  XIV 
LETTERS  FROM  DEWEY 

Some  Hitherto  Unpublished  Letters  —  The  Admiral's 

Career  in  a  Nutshell  —  A  Loving  Sister's  Tribute     .     410 

CHAPTER  XV 
DEWEY'S  ROYAL   ANCESTRY 

The  Lyman,  Lambert,  Osborne,  and  Dewey  Coats  of 
Arms — Brief  Mention  of  Other  Deweys  Prominent 
in  American  Affairs 441 

CHAPTER  XVI 
THE  RATTLE  IN  VERSE  AND  SONG 

Some  Selected  Poems  on  George  Dewey  and  the  Vic 
tory  of  Manila  Bay  —  Contributions  by  Lieut.-Com- 
mander  Rees,  Mr.  George  Coronway,  and  Others  .  474 

CHAPTER  XVII 
ANECDOTES   OF   THE   ADMIRAL 

Claimed    by    Seven    Nations  —  He    Obeyed    Orders - 
"Smarter  than  Chain  Lightning  "--Falsehood  the 
Unpardonable  Sin 486 

CHAPTER  XVIII 
THE  PHILIPPINE    ISLANDS 

Our  New  Possessions  in  the  Far  East— Their  History, 
Geography,  Climate,  Waters,  Productions,  Inhab 
itants,  and  Possibilities  under  American  Rule  .  501 

General  Index    .  539 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Admiral  George  Dewey, 

Montpelier  and  Manila,  1837-1898,      . 

Seal  of  the  State  of  Vermont, 

Main  Street,  Montpelier  (Residence  Portion), 

Main  Street,  Montpelier  (Business  Section), 

Bust  of  Admiral  Dewey, 

Montpelier,  Vermont,     .... 

Kellogg-Hubbard  Library,  Montpelier, 

State  House,  Montpelier, 

National  Life  Building,  Montpelier,   . 

Heaton  Hospital,  Montpelier, 

Federal  Building,  Montpelier, 

Court  House,  Montpelier,  Vermont,   . 

Christ  Church,  Montpelier, 

State  Street,  Montpelier,  Vt., 

Captain  Simeon  Dewey, 

Captain  Elijah  Dewey, 

Birthplace  of  Admiral  Dewey,  Montpelier,  . 

Julius  Yemans  Dewey  .... 

Ethan  Allen,  Statue  of,  Montpelier,  . 

"The  Little  Hero,"       . 

George  Dewey 's  School  Days, 

Dewey's  Accident  in  the  River, 

George  Dewey's  First  Cruise, 

Ford  of  Winooski  River,  Montpelier, 

Swimming  Pool,  Montpelier,    . 

School  House  attended  by  George  Dewey, 

Battle  of  Snowballs,      .... 

Dewey's  First  Punishment, 

Peace  and  War,  .... 

West  Point  and  Hudson  River, 

Old  Navy  Building,  Washington, 


ARTIST  PAGE 

W.  H.   Drake     (Frontispiece) 


W.  H.  Drake 
W.  H.  Drake 
W.  H.  Drake 


W.  H.  Drake 

Portrait 
Portrait 

Portrait 

.  Trowbridge 
W.  H.  Drake 
W.  H.  Drake 
.  Trowbridge 


.  Troivbridge 
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W.  H.  Drake 
W.  H.  Drake 
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(9) 


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10 


ILLUSTKATIONS 


Old  Norwich  University  Buildings,    . 

Captain  Alden  Partridge,          ... 

Edward  Bourns,  .... 

General  Alonzo  Jackman,         ... 

Cadet  Officer's  Room,  Norwich  University, 

Dewey  Hall,  Norwich  University, 

Dewey  Hall  (Interior),  ... 

Seal  of  the  United  States  Navy  Department, 

The  State  House,  Annapolis,  ... 

Tablet  in  Commemoration  of  October  10,  1845, 

Main  Entrance  to  the  Naval  Academy, 

Sick  Quarters  at  the  Naval  Academy, 

Library  Buildings,  Naval  Academy, 

Class  Formation  at  the  Naval  Academy, 

Superintendent's  Residence,  Naval  Academy, 

Seamanship  Room,  Naval  Academy, 

Distributing  Contents  of  "  Lucky  Bag,"  Naval  Academy, 

Lover's  Lane,  Naval  Academy, 

Cutter  Practice,  Annapolis,     ... 

Artillery  Drill,  Naval  Academy, 

Cadet  Drill,  Naval  Academy, 

Naval  Cadets  Repelling  Boarders, 

Duty  and  Honor,  .... 

The  "Wabash"  in  the  Mediterranean, 

The  Old  Harbor,  Marseilles,    ... 

The  Harbor,  Genoa,      .... 

Landing  at  Gibraltar,    .  . 

Rock  of  Gibraltar,          .... 

Caravan  Bridge  over  the  Melos,  Smyrna,     . 

Approach  to  Jaffa,  Syria,        ... 

Alexandria,  The  Western  Harbor, 

Villa  Doria  and  Gardens,  Genoa, 

Torre  Dell'  Annunziata,  Naples, 

Valetta,  Malta  —  Quarantine  Harbor, 

Arco  Di  Riccardo,  Trieste,       ... 

A  Street  in  Amalfi,  near  Naples, 

Civita  Vecchia,  Port  of  Rome, 

Porto  Ferrajo  (View  from  Napoleon's  House), 

Bay  of  Spezia,  Italy,     .... 

Admiral  Farragut,          .... 

The  "Mississippi"  at  Key  West,       . 

Destruction  of  the  "Mississippi," 

George  Dewey  at  the  Age  of  Twenty-four, 

George  Dewey  Leaving  the  Burning  "Mississippi," 

George  Dewey  Saving  a  Comrade's  Life,     . 


ARTIST 

PAGE 

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Portrait 

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Portrait 

86 

Portrait 

88 

... 

91 

... 

95 

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emy, 

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John  Fulleylove 

129 

John  Fulleylove 

133 

John  OJ  Connor 

135 

•            . 

136 

John  Macwhirter 

137 

Henry  A.  Harper 

140 

.     H.  J.  Boot 

141 

John  Fulleylove 

145 

Alfred  East 

149 

C.   W.   Wyllie 

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John  Fulleylove 

153 

Alfred  East 

155 

John  Fulleylove 

157 

John  Fulleylove 

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John  Fulleylove 

165 

W.  H.  Drake 

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W.  H.  Drake 

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W.  H.  Drake 

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Portrait 

172 

.    Trowbridge 

173 

.    Troivbridge 

177 

ILLUSTRATIONS 


11 


Bay  of  Beyrout,  Syria, 

Commander  Dewey,       ..... 
George  Dewey  in  1867,  .... 

Lieutenant  Dewey,        ..... 
George  Dewey   and  Susie   Goodwin  Dewey  at  the 

of  Their  Marriage,  ..... 
Mosque  of  Omar  —  Jerusalem, 
George  Dewey  at  the  Age  of  Forty-six, 
Temple  of  Diana  at  Ephesus, 

Athens  from  the  East,  .... 

Harbor  of  Nagasaki,  Japan,    .... 
A  Buddhist  Priest,         ..... 
Landing  Place  at  Malta,          .... 
Constantinople  and  the  Bosphorus,  Turkey, 
Imperial  Palace,  Constantinople,  Turkey,    . 
Bird's-eye  View  of  Cairo,  Egypt, 
Tomb-Mosque  of  Caid  Bey,  Cairo,  Egypt,  . 
Street  Scene  in  Cairo,  Egypt, 

Boats  Sailing  on  the  Nile,       .... 
Yokohama  and  Harbor,  Japan, 
Hong-Kong  and  Harbor,  China, 
E  Pluribus  Unum,         ..... 
The  Arms  of  Germany,  .... 

Vice-Admiral  Von  Diederichs, 
Commodore  George  Dewey,     .... 
The  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,      . 

The  Flagship  "  Olympia  "  Leading  the  Fleet  into  Action, 
George  Dewey  on  the  Bridge  of  the  "Olympia"  During 

the  Battle,    ...... 

The  "Olympia's"  Crew  Cheering  the  Commodore, 
The  Men  Behind  the  Guns,     .... 

Hotchkiss  Rapid-Fire  Gun,      .... 

Flag  of  Cavite",  Captured  by  the  Americans, 

The  President's  Fighting  Flag, 

Map  of  Manila  Bay,      ..... 

Punch  Cup  Presented  to  the  "Raleigh,"     . 
Destruction  of  the  Spanish  Fleet  at  Manila, 
Wreck  of  the  "Castilla,"         .... 

"Olympia,"  U.  S.  N., 
"Baltimore,"  U.  S.  N., 

"Raleigh,"  U.  S.  N., 

"  Petrel,"  U.   S.   N., 

"Boston,"  U.  S.  N.,  . 
"Concord,"  U.  S.  N.,  . 
The  Arms  of  Spain,  ..... 


ARTIST 

PAGE 

Henri) 

A.  Harper 

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Portrait 

183 

Portrait 

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Time 

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Portrait 

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Warren  Sheppard 

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stion, 

Trowbridge 

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xirin^ 

Trowbridge 

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TF.  ^T.  Drake 

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12 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Manila  Fortifications  —  Isabella  Gate, 

Admiral  Patricio  N.  Montojo  Pasaron, 

"Isla  de  Cuba"  (Amidships), 

D.  Ramon  De  Aunon, 

Duque  De  Almondovar, 

"Isla  de  Cuba"  (After  Deck), 

"  Isla  de  Cuba  "  (At  High  Tide) 

Seiior  Praxedes  Mateo  Sagasta, 

"Don  Juan  de  Austria," 

"Reina  Christina,"        .... 

"Isla  de  Luzon"  (Forward  Deck),   . 

"Castilla," 

"Don  Juan  de  Ulloa," 

The  Great  Seal  of  the  United  States, 

Admiral  Dewey's  Fleet  in  Mirs  Bay, 

Revenue  Cutter  "Hugh  McCulloch," 

Fighting  Top  of  a  War-ship, 

"Oregon,"  U.  S.  N.,    . 

Searchlight  of  a  War-ship, 

Thirteen-Inch  Shells,     .... 

Signaling  on  Board  a  War-ship, 

Captain  Benj.  P.  Lamberton, 

Captain  Charles  V.  Gridley,    . 

Kobe  and  Harbor,  Japan, 

Commander  N.  Mayo  Dyer,    . 

Captain  Joseph  B.  Coghlan,  . 

Captain  Frank  Wildes, 

Commander  Asa  Walker, 

Commander  Edward  P.  Wood, 

American  and  Spanish  Fleets  Ready  for  Action, 

The  War  Room  at  Washington, 

The  Capitol,  Washington, 

William  R.  Day,  LL.D.  (Ex-Secretary  of  State), 

Signing  of  the  Peace  Protocol, 

Stewart  L.  Woodford,  .... 

The  White  House,  Washington, 

The  Board  of  Naval  Strategy, 

United  States  Peace  Commissioners, 

Unseen  Heroes  on  a  War-ship, 

The  "Callao,"  Captured  Spanish  War-ship, 

"The  Star-Spangled  Banner,"  1777-1899,     . 

William  McKinley,        .... 

John  D.  Long,  ..... 

Senator  Henry  Cabot  Lodge,  . 

Senator  Matthew  Stanley  Quay, 


ARTIST 

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W.  If.  Drake 

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Portrait 

274 

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Portrait 

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Portrait 

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Portrait 

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289 

293 

W.  H.  Drake 

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W.  H.  Drake 

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W.  H.  Drake 

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Portrait 

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Portrait 

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Portrait 

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Portrait 

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Portrait 

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Portrait 

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Portrait 

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W.  H.  Drake 

320 

Victor  Perard 

323 

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327 

Portrait 

333 

J.  Steeple  Davis 

339 

Portrait 

349 

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J.  Steeple  Davis 

357 

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363 

Victor  Perard 

371 

W.  H.  Drake 

375 

W.  H.   Drake 

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Portrait 

377 

Portrait 

381 

Portrait 

384 

Portrait 

384 

ILLUSTRATIONS 


13 


The  "Sword  of  Honor"  in  its  Scabbard,    . 

The  "Sword  of  Honor"  in  its  Case, 

Fac-simile  of  Commission  Issued  to  Admiral   Dewey  by 

President  McKinley,  .... 

The  Golden  Fleece  Hall,  Montpelier,  Vermont, 
Mrs.  U.  S.  Grant,          ..... 

Mrs.  John  A.  Logan,    .... 

Mrs.  Captain  Charles  D.  Sigsbee, 

Mrs.  Fitzhugh  Lee,       ..... 

The  Dewey  Medal,        ..... 

The  Dewey  Medal  (Reverse  Side), 

Dr.  Albert  Shaw,  ..... 

Rear- Admiral  Bunce,     ..... 

Rear-Admiral  Walker,  ..... 

Rear-Admiral  Schley,    ..... 

"Reina  Christina"  (Flagship) 

The  Spanish  Standard,  .... 

The  Wreck  of  the  "Reina  Christina," 
Monument  to  the  First  Dewey  Born  in  America,  . 
Rev.  Dr.  Orville  Dewey,  .... 

Rev.  Dr.  Chester  Dewey,         .... 

The  Dewey  Family  Group,      .... 

George  Dewey,    ...... 

Hon.  Charles  Dewey,    ..... 

Mrs.  Mary  P.  Greeley,  .... 

Captain  Edward  Dewey,          .... 

William  T.  Dewey,         ..... 

George  Goodwin  Dewey,  .... 

Lieutenant  Theodore  Gibbs  Dewey,  . 

Captain  Samuel  W.  Dewey,    .... 

Hon.  Dr.  John  Dewey,  .... 

Prof.  Melvil  Dewey,       ..... 

Hiram  Todd  Dewey,      ..... 

A.  M.  Dewey,     ...... 

Rev.  Sanger  Dewey,      ..... 

Judge  Francis  H.  Dewey,        .... 

Albert  G.  Dewey,  .  . 

Governor  Nelson  Dewey,  .... 

James  B.  Dewey,  ..... 

Addice  E.  Dewey,          ..... 

Rev.  Willis  C.  Dewey,  .... 

Courtland  A.  Dewey,    ..... 

Admiral  Dewey 's  Fleet  Passing  Corregidor, 

Dungeon  at  Cavite  —  Where  Admiral  Dewey  was  to  be 

Imprisoned-,  .  .  .         .   . 


PAGE 

385 

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14 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


The  Flags  of  Seven  Nations,  . 

New  Training  Vessel  for  the  U.  S.  Naval  Academy, 

Weapons  of  War  of  the  Filipinos,     . 

Corregidor  Island,  Manila  Bay, 

Map  of  the  Philippine  Islands, 

Lighthouse,  Manila  Harbor,    . 

Iron  Suspension  Bridge,  Manila, 

Major-General  Wesley  Merritt,  U.  S.  A., 

Emilio  Aguinaldo  Famy, 

Major-General  Elwell  S.  Otis,  U.  S.  A., 

Proclamation    of    the    Filipino    Republic,    at    Malolos, 

September,  1898,     . 
The  Old  Cathedral,  Cavite",     . 
Mode  of  Traveling  in  the  Philippines, 
In  the  Spanish  Trenches  at  Manila, 
Major-General  Henry  W.  Lawton,  U.  S.  A., 
"Old  Glory"  Flying  above  Fort  Malate,  Manila, 
Governor- General  Augustin,    . 
The  Caseos  on  Manila  Bay,    . 
Scenes  in  the  Philippine  Islands  (No.  1),     . 
Rear- Admiral  John  C.  Watson,  U.  S.  N.,  . 
Spanish  Historical  Personages  (No.  1), 
Christina,  Queen  Regent  of  Spain,    . 
Alphonso  XIII.,  King  of  Spain, 
Spanish  Historical  Personages  (No.  2), 
House  Used  as  Blockhouse,  Near  Manila,    . 
The  Effect  of  an  American  Three-Inch  Shell, 
A  Street  in  the  Outskirts  of  Malolos, 
Native  Huts  Near  Polo,  North  of  Manila,  . 
Filipino  Huts,     ..... 
Barricade  on  the  Road  from  Manila  to  Polo, 
Scenes  in  the  Philippine  Islands  (No.  2),     . 
Peace  and  Prosperity,  . 


COATS-OF-ARMS   IN 

The  Lyman  Coat-of-Arms, 

The  Lyman-Lambert-Osborne  Coat-of-Arms, 

The  Quartered  Arms  of  Fourteen  Royal  Families  in  the 

Line  of  George  Dewey's  Ancestors, 
The  Dewey  Coat-of-Arms, 


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INTRODUCTION 

is  the  happy  lot  of  GEORGE 
DEWEY  to  have  merited  the  uni 
versal  approval  of  his  country 
men.  The  award  is  made  with 
out  a  dissentient  voice.  He 
indeed  would  be  alike  coura 
geous  and  perverse  who  should 
refuse  to  join  in  the  harmonious 
acclaim  that  comes  up  from 
land  and  sea.  Only  Thersites, 
or  some  of  his  cynical  descend 
ants,  unloved  of  mankind  and  unappreciated  of  history, 
would  dare  to  croak  a  discord  in  the  symphony. 

In  the  career  of  most  men  material  abounds  for  con 
troversy  and  wrangling ;  as  it  respects  the  Hero  of 
Manila,  there  is  virtual  unanimity.  The  countrymen 
of  the  Admiral  have  made  up  their  minds  to  transfer 
their  favorite  from  the  ranks  of  the  unknown  and  the 
common  to  the  ranks  of  the  immortals  in  bronze.  The 

(15) 


16  INTRODUCTION 

schoolboys  and  the  youth  of  the  future,  in  the  early 
morning  of  their  lives,  must  make  the  acquaintance  of 
one  more  captain  of  the  hosts. 

Whatever  may  be  the  elements  of  Dewey's  character 
and  the  historical  circumstances  of  which  he  has  availed 
himself,  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  fact  of  his  fame. 
He  has  passed  easily  and  permanently  into  the  catalogue 
of  the  great  sea-captains  who  have  won  for  their  respec 
tive  nations  the  dominion  of  the  seas.  Henceforth,  this 
name  will  be  found  written  on  architrave,  tablet,  and 
pedestal,  with  the  names  of  Nelson  and  Decatur  and  Far- 
ragut.  The  marvellous  thing  in  the  career  of  our  Admiral 
is  that  within  a  single  year  he  has  made  such  an  extraor 
dinary  dash  of  renown.  His  victories  are  emblazoned 
with  the  deeds  of  the  Lord  of  Trafalgar,  the  Master  of 
the  Mediterranean,  and  the  Hero  of  Mobile  Bay. 

George  Dewey  is  one  of  the  great  characters  of  whom 
modern  history  avails  herself  in  the  transformation  of 
warfare.  War  now  looks  from  the  land  to  the  deep. 
Mars  stands  no  longer  above  the  plain,  but  over  the 
infinite  sea.  The  empire  of  the  world  is  contested  not 
on  the  shore,  but  on  the  ocean.  The  great  states  of 
Christendom  have  come  to  depend  upon  their  navies  for 
both  defense  and  victory ;  and  this  dependence  has  not 
been  disappointed.  Great  Britain  has  risen  to  her  world 
wide  dominion,  not  by  the  onset  of  her  armies,  but  by 
the  power  of  her  fleets.  Nor  has  the  Great  Republic 
ever  failed  of  triumph  in  a  conflict  when  the  American 
navy  has  been  the  right  arm  of  her  faith.  The  splen 
dor  of  Dewey's  name  streams  up  from  the  new  era  of 


INTRODUCTION  17 

humanity  in  which  naval  warfare  (ere  all  warfare  be 
abolished)  shall  be  substituted  for  the  bloodier  conflicts 
of  armies. 

There  is  a  historical  suspicion,  not  ill-founded,  that 
men  concerning  whom  the  world  is  agreed  are  likely  to 
lose  their  fame.  It  must  be  confessed  that  most  of  the 
great  characters  wTho  have  influenced  the  course  of  human 
events  have  attained  their  place  only  by  battle  and  con 
quest,  and  many  have  subsequently  lost  their  place  by 
a  reversal  of  the  judgment  of  mankind.  Only  in  rare  in 
stances  does  the  foremost  man  of  his  age  hold  through 
life  and  death  an  equal  and  undiminished  fame.  In 
the  case  of  Admiral  Dewey  there  are  reasons  a  priori 
for  believing  that  his  rank  as  man  and  hero  will  not 
in  the  twentieth  century  be  less  illustrious  than  it  is  in 
this. 

The  conspicuous  leaders  in  the  affairs  of  nations  have 
generally  been  fiercely  assailed.  Not  only  the  strong 
have  been  thus  subjected  to  the  antagonism  of  their 
fellow-beings,  but  the  good  as  well  have  been  attacked 
and  tried  by  fire.  The  military  captain  has  had  to  be 
come  such  by  shaking  from  his  powerful  sides  the  lesser 
creatures  who  pursue  him,  and  the  statesman  has  had 
to  reach  the  ascendant  by  traversing  the  marshlands  of 
politics  and  by  breathing  the  enmities  and  bearing  the 
slanders  of  his  rivals.  Even  the  artist  and  the  profes 
sional  man,  preeminent  above  the  rank  and  file  of  their 
fellows,  must  gain  their  stations  and  secure  their  fame  by 
enduring  the  petty  ordeals  of  competition  and  by  facing 
the  frown  of  thousands  left  behind. 

D.— 2 


18  INTRODUCTION 

Lord  Byron  has  well  expressed  the  general  enmity 
which  the  human  race  sadly  enough  cherishes  for  its 
leaders  and  master  spirits: 

"  He   who  ascends  the  mountain-top  shall  find 

The  loftiest  peaks  most  clad  in  ice  and  snow  ; 
He  who  surpasses  or  subdues  mankind 

Must  look  down  on  the  hate  of  all  below  ! " 

To  this  sad  and  almost  universal  law,  it  has  remained 
for  Admiral  Dewey  to  furnish  a  conspicuous  exception. 
Nor  does  there  seem  to  be  any  well-founded  apprehension 
that  the  present  partial  judgment  of  the  American  people 
will  be  hereafter  reversed  by  some  sudden  caprice  or 
prejudice  of  the  coming  age. 

George  Dewey  has  emerged  into  the  broad  field  of 
world-wide  observation  and  renown  under  conditions  that 
are  strikingly  peculiar.  It  does  not  appear  that  in  life 
or  manner  he  is  greatly  changed  from  what  he  was  prior 
to  the  great  apparition  of  1898.  It  does  not  appear  that 
in  character  he  is  a  purer  or  nobler  man  than  he  was 
on  the  Colorado,  in  the  Mediterranean,  thirty  years  ago. 
The  change  in  his  relative  rank  has  been  simply  a  reve 
lation  ;  and  when  a  revelation  is  to  be  made  in  human 
history,  there  must  be  something  to  be  revealed ! 

The  rise  of  Dewey  to  universal  fame  is  not  an  acci 
dent  ;  neither  is  it  the  result  of  favoring  contingencies 
which  came  with  the  beginning  of  the  Spanish-American 
war,  but  it  is  the  result  of  a  great  character  unconsciously 
combining  with  a  situation  in  which  his  country  had- 
as  if  thoughtfully  —  placed  him  in  the  hour  of  trial. 


INTRODUCTION  19 

And  this  is  the  only  legitimate  method  of  human  great 
ness.  This  is  the  only  greatness  which  is  not  envied  and 
denied  by  those  who  cannot  achieve  it. 

A  remarkable  fact  may  be  noted  as  an  invariable  con 
comitant  of  this  kind  of  greatness  which  is  not  made  but 
simply  revealed,  and  that  is  the  unconsciousness  and  com 
parative  silence  of  him  to  whom  it  belongs.  It  is  true  that 
unconsciousness  and  silence  do  not  always  secure  the 
great  man  from  the  hostility  of  the  age,  but  they  go  far 
to  mollify  and  reduce  the  antagonism  and  jealousy  of  his 
grudging  contemporaries.  Admiral  Dewey  has  in  a  re 
markable  degree  that  golden  reserve  of  silence  which  is 
more  powerful  in  fixing  the  fame  of  its  possessor  than 
is  the  orator's  eloquent  period  or  the  poet's  rhapsody. 

Silence,  fitting  speech,  and  great  deeds !  These  are  the 
sterling  attributes  of  the  soul  of  Dewey.  These  are  the 
qualities  with  which  in  the  one  brief  season  of  his  op 
portunity  he  has  conquered  not  only  the  Spanish  foe, 
but  also  the  admiration  of  his  countrymen.  He  now 
goes  to  his  trial  at  the  bar  of  Biography  and  History. 
There,  in  the  stillness  of  the  great  tribunal,  where  all 
the  heroes  of  the  nations,  each  in  his  turn,  have  stood 
to  be  judged,  George  Dewey  must  stand  while  his  cre 
dentials  to  immortal  fame  are  examined ! 

The  most  illustrious  lives  of  men  belong  to  a  class 
of  actors  who  do  the  deed  and  are  proclaimed  after 
wards.  Then  all  of  a  sudden  the  world  becomes  aware 
of  a  new  force  which  has  been  at  work  among,  and  in 
a  measure  determining,  the  character  of  events.  In  this 
Life  of  Admiral  Dewey  the  task  is  essayed  of  setting 


20  INTRODUCTION 

forth  and  interpreting  the  career  of  a  man  who  made 
history  before  the  cyclopedists  had  found  him  ! 

The  author  of  the  present  work,  and  they  who  have 
assisted  in  gathering  the  facts  of  Admiral  Dewey's  life, 
have  been  fortunate  in  their  near  approach  to  the  man 
himself.  It  had  not  been  anticipated  that  so  full  and 
authentic  a  record  of  the  hero's  work  could  be  made  at 
so  early  a  date.  The  documents  in  which  are  recorded 
the  progress  and  much  of  the  purpose  of  the  Admiral 
have  been  found  in  the  keeping  of  members  of  his 
family.  By  them  his  correspondence  has  been  preserved, 
as  if  in  loving  anticipation  of  the  time  when  his  most 
trifling  letter  would  be  held  and  guarded  as  a  treasure. 

In  more  general  terms,  the  author  of  this  work  has 
been  successful  in  tracing  the  life  line  of  Dewey  from  his 
childhood  home,  in  Vermont,  to  his  present  place  as  cap 
tain  of  the  seas.  Here  are  found  the  pictured  scenes  of 
the  boyhood  of  the  hero;  his  career  in  school  and  acad 
emy  ;  his  outgoing  as  a  naval  tyro  ;  his  trials  and  vicissi 
tudes  in  the  long  interval  between  the  Civil  and  the 
Spanish  war;  his  sudden  revelation  and  ascendency  in 
the  East,  and  his  seemingly  secure  conquest,  not  only  of 
the  Philippines,  but  also  of  the  good-will  and  confidence 
of  mankind.  May  the  remainder  of  Admiral  Dewey's  life, 
when  the  same  shall  have  been  completed,  be  also  writ 
ten  in  letters  of  gold  — according  to  the  promise  of  the 
first  great  act  as  recorded  in  these  pages. 


WASHINGTON,  June,  1899. 


"Vertrvotvt . 


CHAPTER   I 
MONTPELIER 

THE  CAPITAL  OF  THE  GREEN  MOUNTAIN  STATE  AND  THE  BIRTH 
PLACE  OF  ADMIRAL  GEORGE  DEWEY 

HILE  searching  for  the  data  with 
which  to  authenticate  and  em 
bellish  the  story  of  the  life  and 
character  of  America's  greatest 
living  naval  commander,  the 
writer  boarded  a  train  in  Grand 
Central  Station,  New  York  city, 
one  Sunday  afternoon  at  four 
o'clock,  and  at  three  o'clock  the 
next  morning  found  himself  in 
the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Wi- 

nooski  River,  in  the  very  heart  of  the  famous  Green 
Mountain  region  of  Vermont.  "Montpelier !"  called  out 
the  trainman  in  deep  stentorian  tones,  and  the  Pullman 
porter  helped  the  wreary  traveler  to  the  platform  of  the 
station.  But  it  was  not  the  Capital  City  after  all  —  only 

(21) 


_ 

TClam    ^treet  -  .Residence  portion. 


22  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

a  junction,  from  which  a  few  moments  later  he  was  car 
ried  by  a  combination'  of  freight  and  accommodation  train 
to  the  charming  little  city  which  has  now  become  his 
toric  as  the  birthplace  of  George  Dewey,  the  hero  of  Ma 
nila  Bay.  The  courteous  hotel  porter  escorted  the  scribe 
to  comfortable  quarters  for  the  remainder  of  the  night, 
and  in  fifteen  minutes  after  he  was  left  alone  the  quiet 
of  a  New  England  village  had  lulled  him  into  a  refresh 
ing  slumber,  undisturbed,  until  the  sweet  song-birds,  which 
inhabit  this  region  in  great  numbers,  proclaimed  the 
coming  of  the  dawn  of  another  day.  Hastily  preparing 
for  breakfast  (which  comes  at  an  early  hour  here),  the 
searcher  after  facts  was  ushered  into  a  large  and  com 
modious  dining-hall,  where  trim  New  England  maidens, 
in  neat  frocks,  served  an  old-fashioned  New  England 
meal,  with  fresh  Vermont  maple  syrup  for  the  buckwheat 
cakes  and  shaved  sugar  for  the  rolls  and  cereal.  Alto 
gether,  it  was  such  a  reception  as  one  might  have  ex 
pected  in  a  New  England  city  which  has  erected  in  its 
State  House  a  marble  statue  to  Ethan  Allen,  and  which 
celebrated  the  naval  victory  of  May  1,  1898,  as  did  no 
other  city  in  America. 

And  right  here  it  is  well  that  the  reader  should  be 
come  a  little  acquainted  with  the  city  of  our  Admiral's 
birth  and  boyhood.  The  eleventh  census  (1890)  gave  to 
Montpelier  a  population  of  a  little  more  than  five  thou 
sand  persons,  but  a  later  school  census  increases  that 
number  to  about  eight  thousand.  The  city  lies  in  a 
quiet,  sequestered  spot,  on  the  bank  of  the  Winooski 
River.  It  is  surrounded  so  closely  on  all  sides  by  the 


MONTPELIER 


23 


Green  Mountains  as  to  seem  to  be  literally  resting  in 
the  very  lap  of  Nature.  State  street,  which  takes  its 
name  from  the  State  House,  occupying  one  whole  square 
of  ground,  the  rear  of  the  building  itself  reaching  to  the 
very  foot  of  the  mountain  range,  is  at  once  a  place  of 
business  and  of  pleasure.  Not  less  than  one  hundred  and 


MAIN  STREET,  MONTPELIER 

fifty  feet  in  width,  bordered  with  wide  walks  of  concrete, 
its  parking  filled  with  stately  old  elms  and  other  trees 
of  dense  foliage  arching  the  street,  it  is  indeed  a  pleas 
ant  scene  to  look  upon.  Going  from  the  station,  which 
is  as  near  the  centre  of  the  town  as  it  well  could  be, 
one  enters  to  the  right  the  business  portion  of  the  city, 
while  to  the  left  and  in  front  is  to  be  found  the  main 


24 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


residence  sec 
tion.  The 
spot  where 
George  Dewey 
was  born  is  a 
few  hundred 
feet  to  the  left 
of  the  station, 
and  just  op 
posite  the  en 
trance  to  the 
State  House 
grounds.  A 
brother  of 
the  Admiral, 
Capt.  Edward 
Dewey,  has 
since  built 
here  a  hand- 
so  me  house, 
that  in  which 

our  hero  had  his  first  struggle  for  existence  having  been 
moved  a  little  farther  down  the  street.  Turning  to 
the  right,  and  before  reaching,  in  the  business  section, 
what  is  called  Main  Street,  one  passes  the  government 
building  and  courthouse,  and,  what  is  here  of  more  im 
portance,  the  site  of  Christ  Church.  That  house  of  wor 
ship  was  built  in  the  early  years  of  the  century,  largely 
through  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Julius  Yemans  Dewey,  the 
Admiral's  father,  and  was  also  the  church  in  which 


BUST  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Made  by  Abrams  Chegli,  of  New  York.    Presented  by  Charles  Dewey, 
brother  of  the  Admiral,  to  the  Wood  collection  of  fine  arts  at  Montpelier 


MONTPELIER 


27 


the  Admiral  himself  was  christened  and  taught  his  first 
lessons  in  the  catechism.  The  illustration  on  page  thirty- 
nine  is  of  the  old  church  as  originally  built.  It  has  since 
been  replaced  by  another  and  more  costly  structure.  The 
original  building,  having  been  remodeled  into  a  dwelling, 
is  still  in  use  a  short  distance  down  the  street,  as  a 


KELLOGG-HUBBARD  LIBRARY,   MONTPELIER 

boarding  house  for  summer  tourists,  who  every  year  visit 
Montpelier  in   large   numbers. 

Passing  along  still  farther  to  the  right,  and  turning 
into  Main  Street  to  the  left,  the  visitor  discovers  that  he 
has  entered  another  avenue  of  unusual  beauty,  bordered 
on  either  side  by  fine  residences  in  wood  and  stone, 
surrounded  by  spacious  lawns  and  gardens  enriched  by 


28  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

an  abundance  of  flowers.  Here  he  finds  the  Kellogg- 
Hubbard  Library,  a  magnificent  stone  structure  built  at 
a  cost  of  $60,000,  —  a  property  incorporated  and  held  in 
trust  for  the  inhabitants  of  Montpelier.  The  building  is 
commodious,  and  a  fit  place  of  abode  for  the  Montpelier 
Public  Library,  which  has  had  an  existence,  in  one  form 
or  another,  since  the  year  1794.  It  is  thus  seen  that  the 
residents  of  Montpelier,  while  yet  a  very  young  village, 
and  when  its  inhabitants  could  have  been  counted  on 
the  fingers  of  few  hands,  were  seekers  after  knowledge; 
and  it  is  but  fair  to  say  of  them  that  they  have  been 
seeking  it  ever  since. 

Another  of  the  points  of  interest  to  the  visitor  is  the 
Heaton  Hospital  erected  in  1895  on  the  northern  por 
tion  of  what  is  known  as  Seminary  Hill,  the  place  taking 
its  name  from  the  Montpelier  Seminary,  a  Methodist 
institution  of  learning  well  and  favorably  known  to 
Methodists  and  others  throughout  the  Green  Mountain 
State.  Both  of  these  are  large  and  commodious  struc 
tures,  well  managed,  and  possessing  attractions  for  stran 
gers,  whether  in  search  of  health  or  education. 

Coming  back  to  the  city  proper,  and  after  feasting 
our  eyes  on  the  architectural  beauty  of  the  "  National 
Life,"  and  other  structures  in  marble  and  sandstone,  we 
will  take  a  look  at  the  old  brick  school  building  in  which 
one  Pangborn,  in  the  late  forties,  taught  the  young  ideas 
of  Montpelier  how  to  shoot.  It  is  said  that  this  same 
pedagogue  once  conquered  the  iron  will  of  the  boy  who 
in  later  years  conquered  the  Spanish  navy  in  the  waters 
of  the  Philippine  Archipelago.  The  building  is  now  used 


MONTPELIER 


31 


as  a  dwelling, 
the  view  on 
page  sixty-nine 
being  a  good 
one  of  the  out 
side  of  the  struc 
ture.  It  was  in 
this  place  that 
most  of  the  men 
o  f  Montpelier, 
now  of  mature 
years,  were  giv 
en  their  first  les 
sons  in  the  rule 
of  three.  There 
are  many  now 
living  in  the  various  cities  of  the  United  States,  as  well 
as  many  who  still  dwell  beneath  the  roof  which  gave 
them  shelter  in  childhood  days,  who  received  their  earliest 
instructions  here,  and  who  have  since  taken  their  places 
among  the  foremost  men  and  women  of  their  time. 

Last,  but  by  no  means  least,  in  this  list  of  points  of 
unusual  interest  in  the  Capital  City  of  Vermont,  we  come 
to  the  official  home  of  the  State  government  itself,  the 
State  House.  The  view  presented  of  this  stately  struc 
ture  furnishes  but  a  faint  idea  of  the  grandeur  of  the 
building.  Standing,  at  this  point,  in  the  very  centre  of 
the  valley  of  the  Winooski  River,  a  view  from  the  dome 
of  the  Capitol  building  discloses  a  kaleidoscopic  panorama 
to  be  found,  with  equal  effect,  in  no  other  locality.  Back 


THE      NATIONAL  LIFE"   BUILDING,  MONTPELIER 


32 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


of  the  State  House  rises  majestically  one  of  the  highest 
and  most  precipitous  of  the  Green  Mountain  ranges,  so 
close  as  to  make  it  appear  possible  for  the  observer  to 
jump  with  ease  from  the  dome  to  the  mountain  side. 
Away  to  the  right  and  left  can  be  seen  the  winding  waters 
of  the  Winooski,  with  its  sloping  banks  and  meadowed 
lowlands.  A  quarter  of  a  mile  down  the  stream  is  the 


HEATON  HOSPITAL,  MONTPELIER 

ford  in  which  George  Dewey  nearly  lost  his  life  on  the 
occasion  of  his  first  naval  venture  in  his  father's  run 
about  some  time  in  the  early  forties.  A  view  of  the  ford 
is  shown  on  page  sixty-four.  Far  away,  in  one  direction, 
on  a  clear  day,  can  be  distinctly  seen  the  foothills  of  the 
White  Mountains,  while  in  the  other,  the  Adirondacks  and 
Lake  Champlain,  with  its  reminders  of  Ethan  Allen  and 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys  at  Fort  Ticonderoga,  bring  the 
enchanted  observer  back  to  earth  again  and  remind  him 
that  time  flies  and  waits  for  no  man.  At  his  feet  lies 


MONTPELIER  35 

the  north  branch  of  the  Winooski,  cutting  the  little  city 
in  two,  and  winding  its  way  like  a  thread  of  silver  away 
to  the  north  and  east,  forming  another  valley  as  beautiful 
as  the  one  in  which  the  city  of  Montpelier  rests.  Along 
its  banks  within  the  city  proper  are  to  be  seen  many 
manufacturing  plants  of  varied  industries,  giving  to  the 
little  city  an  air  of  hustling  commercialism  surpassed 
only  by  its  quaint  and  quiet  New  England  homeliness  as 
a  place  of  either  rest  or  recreation. 

The  interior  of  the  State  House  possesses  much  in 
terest  for  the  stranger.  The  rooms  of  the  governor  and 
other  State  officers  are  both  elegant  and  simple  in  their 
furnishings,  the  walls  being  hung  with  paintings  of  for 
mer  officials  and  men  of  note  in  the  affairs  of  the 
commonwealth.  The  Vermont  State  Historical  Society 
occupies  much  space  with  collections,  both  rare  and  rich, 
of  everything,  from  stuffed  birds,  native  to  the  State,  to 
the  Indian  relics  of  bygone  days  found  within  the  borders 
of  old  Vermont.  The  exhibits  are  as  fine  as  could  possibly 
be  gotten  together,  while  the  display  of  polished  granite 
and  marble  would  occasion  surprise  in  one  unacquainted 
with  the  resources  of  the  State  in  those  particular  prod 
ucts.  Marble  and  granite  are  as  common  in  the  construc 
tion  of  buildings  in  Montpelier  as  were  the  more  familiar 
cobble-stones  in  the  dwellings  and  factories  of  northern 
New  York  erected  in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  Here  also  is  to  be  found  the  State  Library,  said 
to  contain  the  most  complete  collection  of  law  books  of 
any  library  in  the  United  States,  not  even  excepting  the 
Congressional  Library  at  Washington.  It  is  a  boast  of 


36  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Vermonters  interested  in  library  matters  that  several  of 
the  United  States  Supreme  Court  Justices  have  in  recent 
years  written  their  opinions  and  decisions  within  the  walls 
of  this  building,  coming  there  from  the  White  Mountain 
country  in  order  to  avail  themselves  of  the  superior  facili 
ties  afforded  by  this  collection  of  law  books. 

Before  leaving  the  building  and  after  taking  a  glance 
into  the  halls  of  the  Assembly  and  the  State  Senate, 
the  visitor  is  invited  to  inspect  the  statue  of  Ethan 
Allen,  which  stands  in  the  porch  of  the  building.  This 
statue  was  designed  by  Larkin  G.  Mead,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  his  masterpiece.  Vermonters  have  an  especial 
fondness  for  Ethan  Allen,  and  their  latest  hero  is  yet 
compelled  to  yield  a  place  in  the  affections  of  the 
people  of  the  Green  Mountain  State  for  this  other  Ver- 
monter,  who  called  so  early  in  the  morning  on  the 
British  at  Ticonderoga. 

Down  the  broad  steps  from  the  porch  toward  State 
Street,  one  enters  the  spacious  grounds  with  a  feeling 
that  he  has  been  well  repaid  for  his  time  within  the 
building.  The  grounds  are  plain  but  well  kept,  the 
walks  from  the  centre  gate  to  the  far  corners  of 
the  inclosure,  at  either  of  the  side  entrances  to  the 
Capitol  building,  being  trod  daily  by  a  large  percentage 
of  the  population  of  the  city  in  their  passing  to  and 
from  business  or  the  station.  It  was  in  these  very 
grounds  that  the  children  of  Montpelier  in  the  early 
days  used  to  hold  their  annual  May-day  festivities, 
though  usually  the  picnic  would  commence  in  the  woods 
on  the  hills  above  the  State  House,  and  end  within  this 


MONTPELIER 


37 


inclosure.  It 
was  here  that 
George  Dewey, 
on  one  of  these 
May-day  occa 
sions  when  he 
was  a  lad  of 
thirteen,  had  an 
altercation  with 
the  boy  who  has 
since  become 
the  Rev.  John 
P.  Demeritt.  An 
account  of  th  e 
altercation  is 
given  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  It 
is  interesting  to 
listen  to  tales  of 
the  annually  re 
curring  jollifications  among  the  younger  people  of  those 
other  days,  and  one  is  led  almost  to  wish  that  he  were 
young  again,  and  that  the  customs  of  the  years  gone 
by  had  not  been  so  ruthlessly  cast  aside  for  the  more 
fashionable  but  less  enjoyable  festivities  of  these  later 
generations. 

In  another  particular  the  city  of  Montpelier  is  worthy 
of  more  than  passing  mention  in  this  initial  chapter  to 
the  story  of  the  life  of  George  Dewey.  Scientists  tell 
us  that  food  and  drink,  and  the  habits  of  life  influenced 


THE  COURT  HOUSE,  MONTPELIER 


38  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

by  both  of  them,  are  important  factors  in  affecting  the 
career  of  any  people.  The .  soil  of  the  Winooski  valley 
produces  the  very  best  of  vegetables  and  cereals,  and 
the  waters  of  Mirror  Lake,  from  which  the  city  receives 
its  supply  of  water  for  domestic  uses,  are  declared  by 
chemists  to  be  as  pure  as  any  in  the  world.  If  we  are 
to  take  this  into  consideration,  then  surely  Montpelier 
is  entitled  to  another  credit  mark  when  we  are  fixing 
the  rewards  for  the  victory  of  Manila  Bay. 

Taken  altogether,  Montpelier  is  a  pleasant  place  to 
live  in,  as  well  as  a  good  place  to  have  been  born  in, 
as  has  been  said  by  some  of  the  paragraphers  in  refer 
ence  to  the  early  home  of  George  Dewey.  Best  of  all, 
the  people  are  of  an  hospitable  disposition,  and  the 
latchstring  is  always  hanging  out  for  the  stranger  who 
happens  to  come  within  the  gates  of  the  city. 


.    A-ort 

ic  a  red  etr  o  Cj 


CHAPTER    II 
BIRTH  AND  CHILDHOOD 

HOME    OF    DR.   JULIUS    YEMANS    DEWEY  —  ANTE-NATAL    INFLU 
ENCES— "THE   POOR   LITTLE   CHILD  OF   A  TAR" 

E  day  was  Christmas,  happiest 
of  all  the  winter  holidays,  and 
the  good  people  of  the  Capital 
City  of  the  Green  Mountain  State 
were  as  merry  with  their  festivi 
ties  as  is  the  custom  in  all  those 
ancient  New  England  house 
holds.  December  twenty-five 
comes  there  as  early  in  the  cal 
endar  year  as  elsewhere ;  but, 
somehow,  it  seems  to  be  a  little 
later  in  the  season  when  the  snow  has  lain  on  the  ground 
for  several  weeks,  and  the  jolly  jingle  of  the  sleigh  bells 
has  become  sufficiently  familiar  to  cause  no  longer  a 
scurry  of  the  children  to  the  windows  to  see  the  horses 

(39) 


"birthplace,  TUontpeUer.Vt. 


40  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

and  hear  the  music  of  the  sweet-toned  harbingers  of  peace 
and  happiness.  And,  too,  the  latitude  of  Montpelier  is 
pretty  well  north,  and  long  ere  the  last  week  in  Decem 
ber  the  thrifty  householder  of  the  year  of  our  Lord 
eighteen  hundred  and  thirty-seven  had  banked  his  house 
against  the  wintry  winds,  and  lighted  the  fires  in  the  great 
stoves  and  fireplaces  which  make  the  long  evenings  pass 
so  pleasantly,  and  which  have  given  to  the  homes  of  Ver 
mont  a  fame  above  that  of  most  of  her  sister  States  as 
a  place  of  good  cheer  during  Yule  Tide.  It  is  here  the 
children  come  to  crack  nuts,  eat  apples,  and  drink  the 
best  of  sweet  cider;  and  the  ringing  laughter,  mingled 
now  and  again  with  the  music  of  song  or  the  interesting 
tales  of  other  holidays,  have  a  tendency  to  make  the 
older  ones  wish  for  a  return  of  the  days  of  childhood, 
when  Santa  Glaus  was  not  to  them  a  myth,  and  before 
the  years  of  care  and  responsibility  had  made  them  ac 
quainted  with  the  stern  realities  of  life. 

On  State  Street,  nearly  opposite  the  State  House,  there 
then  stood  a  vineclad  cottage,  known  far  and  wide  as  the 
hospitable  home  of  one  of  Vermont's  foremost  citizens, 
Dr.  Julius  Yemans  Dewey.  Pleasant  were  the  surround 
ings  here,  so  far  as  nature  and  loving  hands  could  make 
them,  and  the  stately  elm-trees,  with  their  over-hanging 
branches,  glistening  with  the  crystals  which  heaven  alone 
can  send  them  at  this  season  of  the  year,  only  added  to 
the  grandeur  of  the  landscape.  Back  of  the  house,  at  a 
little  distance,  ran  the  murmuring  waters  of  the  Onion 
River,  where  boys  and  girls,  in  their  warm  hoods  and  fur 
mufflers,  gathered  during  the  winter  months  to  while 


z     <n 

O     Z 


UJ       O 


BIRTH  AND  CHILDHOOD  43 

away  an  idle  hour  and  gain  much  needed  respite  from 
their  studies;  and  " crack  the  whip"  was  as  much  in  evi 
dence  with  the  skaters  then  as  the  latter-day  sport  of 
curling  is  now.  In  the  distance  are  to  be  seen  the  snow- 
clad  tops  of  the  mountain  ranges  for  which  the  State  is 
famous,  and  which,  for  six  months  in  each  year,  are  so 
covered  with  verdure  as  to  entitle  them  to  the  appella 
tion  of  "Green  Mountains." 

In  this  pretty  cottage  home  of  Doctor  Dewey,  Christmas 
Day,  1837,  was  not  unlike  that  of  other  years.  Children 
there  were, — two  robust  boys,  aged  respectively  eight  and 
eleven  years, —  and  to  them  the  recurring  holiday  brought 
its  usual  accompaniment  of  toys,  sleds,  skates,  pop  corn, 
candy,  nice  warm  mittens,  and  fur-lined  coats  and  caps. 
But  there  was  present  an  air  of  quiet  expectancy,  and 
none  acquainted  with  the  family  were  at  all  surprised 
when,  on  the  following  day,  December  twenty-six,  they 
learned  that  another  baby  boy  had  come  to  bless  the 
home  of  Doctor  Dewey  and  his  most  estimable,  beloved 
wife.  That  child  was  christened  a  few  years  later  in  the 
church  which  the  father  had  founded,  and  was  named 
George  Dewey.  The  large  congregation  who  witnessed  the 
baptism,  and  who  heard  the  prompt  decisive  answers  of 
the  fond  parents  to  the  questions  asked  by  the  rector  of 
Christ  Church,  little  realized  that  the  infant  thus  start 
ing  on  the  journey  of  life  was  one  day  to  become  one 
of  the  best-loved  Americans  of  his  time,  achieve  the 
greatest  naval  victory  in  the  history  of  nations,  and,  by 
the  effort  of  a  single  day,  practically  end  a  war  with  a 
foreign  power,  and  change  the  map  of  the  world. 


44  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

The  Admiral's  ancestors  all  along  the  line  from  Thomas 
Dewey,  the  settler,  who  landed  in  Massachusetts  Bay  with 
the  Rev.  John  Warham's  little  band  of  persecuted  Chris 
tians  in  the  summer  of  1630,  down  through  the  Revolution 
ary  War  and  the  War  of  1812,  have  been  men  who  have 
taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  both  State  and 
Nation.  And,  too,  he  comes  of  stock  possessing  the  qual 
ities  which  he  himself  has  shown  in  his  destruction  of 
the  Spanish  fleet  in  the  harbor  of  Cavite.  The  Deweys 
have  ever  been  fighters  —  not  brawlers,  who  quarrel  for 
the  sake  of  creating  a  disturbance,  but  fighters  to  the 
manner  born,  who  were  ever  ready  to  lay  down  their  lives, 
if  need  be,  in  defense  of  their  country's  honor,  or  to 
resent  any  insult  to  their  country's  flag.  Among  the  best 
known  of  the  family's  representatives  in  this  class  stands 
the  name  of  the  Rev.  Jedediah  Dewey,  who,  history  tells 
us,  adjourned  a  service  in  his  church  to  go  out  one  Sun 
day  morning  to  fight  the  British  at  the  Battle  of  Ben- 
nington,  and  then  returned  to  the  house  of  worship,  took 
up  his  sermon  where  he  had  left  off  when  interrupted, 
and  finished  it.  Another  of  this  same  family  was  Capt. 
Elijah  Dewey,  a  son  of  the  Reverend  Jedediah,  who  has  a 
record  of  having  been  at  Ticonderoga,  the  evacuation  of 
St.  Clare,  at  the  Battle  of  Bennington,  where  his  reverend 
father  earned  the  title  of  "the  fighting  parson,"  and  at 
the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  And  when  that  other  Ver- 
monter,  Ethan  Allen,  put  in  an  appearance  so  early  in  the 
morning  and  demanded  the  keys  of  the  fortress  at  Ti 
conderoga,  he  was  accompanied  by  Ensign  Simeon  Dewey, 
who  was  a  brother  of  George  Dewey's  great-grandfather, 


CAPTAIN    SIMEON     DEWEY 


BIRTH  AND  CHILDHOOD  47 

Capt.  William  Dewey,  who  was  himself  very  much  in  evi 
dence  throughout  the  Revolutionary  War.  Several  others 
of  the  Admiral's  ancestors  in  direct  line  have  been  equally 
as  conspicuous  as  defenders  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes  as 
those  so  briefly  noted. 

George  Dewey  was  what  some  people  would  call  "well 
born."  His  parents  were  among  the  most  highly  respected 
people  in  that  staid  old  city  of  Montpelier.  His  father 
had  been  graduated  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  from  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  Vermont,  and 
practiced  his  profession  with  great  success  until  1850, 
when  he  became  medical  examiner  of  the  National  Life 
Insurance  Company.  During  those  six  and  twenty  years, 
the  genial  doctor  became  the  best-known  man  in  all  that 
country  round.  His  visits  to  the  bedside  of  the  sick  and 
dying  brought  him  in  contact  with  thousands  of  families, 
the  descendants  of  whom  are  now  congratulating  George 
Dewey  and  his  family  on  the  great  victory  of  Manila 
Bay.  To  the  sick  his  coming  was  as  a  beam  of  sunshine 
on  a  dark  and  dreary  day.  He  was  a  religious  man,  but 
not  one  of  the  sort  who  carried  his  Christianity  on  his 
coat  sleeve  to  be  seen  of  men,  but  who,  rather,  permitted 
the  glory  of  his  Master  to  shine  out  in  his  countenance, 
and  who  spoke  cheering  words  to  those  in  trouble,  and 
always  had  a  pleasant  smile  for  those  with  whom  he 
came  in  daily  contact.  His  was  a  religion  of  deeds,  not 
words,  and  many  are  the  tales  told  since  his  death  by 
those  whom  he  had  helped  in  many  ways  during  his  long 
and  useful  life.  He  dispensed  charity  with  a  lavish  hand, 
and  yet  his  left  hand  never  knew  what  his  right  hand 


48 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


was  doing.  As 
may  be  readily 
understood, 
Julius  Yemans 
Dewey  was  a 
man  of  im 
portance  in  the 
community 
where  he  lived, 
and  his  coun 
sel  and  advice 
were  often 
sought  by  men 
in  all  the  walks 
of  life.  He  was 
a  man  of  mu 
sical  and  liter 
ary  tastes,  and 
he  is  said  to 
have  rarely  permitted  a  Sunday  evening  to  pass  which  did 
not  witness  a  gathering  of  the  young  people  of  his  imme 
diate  neighborhood  at  his  home,  where,  for  an  hour  or 
more,  the  sweet  tones  of  the  cottage  organ  were  united 
with  the  melodious  notes  of  the  doctor's  own  superb  tenor, 
mingled  with  the  voices  of  young  men  and  women,  all 
singing  in  sweet  accord  the  beautiful  hymns  for  which 
the  Hymnal  of  the  Episcopal  Church  is  so  justly  noted. 
Long  prayers  were  not  the  doctor's  forte;  but  praises  to 
God  in  the  true  spirit  of  Christian  fellowship  in  every 
day  life  were  the  characteristics  of  the  Admiral's  father. 


CAPTAIN  ELIJAH   DEWEY 


BIRTH  AND  CHILDHOOD  49 

When  the  handful  of  worshipers  in  Montpelier  who 
espoused  the  Episcopal  faith  decided  to  build  a  church 
of  their  own,  it  was  to  Doctor  Dewey  they  came  for 
counsel,  and  he  became  known  as  the  founder  of  Christ 
Church.  The  first  funeral  ever  held  in  this  sacred  edifice 
was  that  of  George  Dewey's  sainted  mother,  who  passed 
over  to  the  bright  beyond  when  the  future  hero  of  Manila 
Bay  was  but  a  mere  chit  of  a  boy  of  five.  It  was  in 
the  Sunday  School  of  Christ  Church  that  young  George 
was  taught  his  first  lessons  in  the  catechism,  and  some 
years  later,  while  stationed  at  the  Naval  Academy,  George 
Dewey  was  confirmed,  as  was,  also,  his  wife,  Susie  Goodwin, 
at  St.  Anne's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  Annapolis,  Md. 
Dr.  Julius  Yemans  Dewey  was  ever  deeply  interested  in 
all  matters  of  an  educational  nature,  and  the  churches, 
public  schools,  and  libraries  of  Vermont  always  had  in 
him  a  staunch  supporter  arid  earnest  friend.  He  was  a 
public-spirited  citizen,  and  was  ever  ready  with  his  voice 
or  purse  to  aid  in  the  advancement  of  railroad,  church, 
school,  hotel,  or  other  enterprises  in  which  his  loved  vil 
lage  or  city  of  Montpelier  might  become  interested.  In 
a  word,  George  Dewey's  father  was  a  man  among  men, 
highly  educated,  cultured,  of  strict  integrity,  exceptional 
morals,  and  firmness  of  character, —  just  such  a  man  as 
one  would  expect  to  know  as  the  progenitor  of  such  a 
leader  of  men  as  Admiral  George  Dewey. 

The  Admiral's  mother  was  a  woman  of  uncommonly 
fine  parts,  and  to  her  as  much  as  to  his  father  does  he 
owe  many  of  the  excellent  traits  of  character  which  have 
made  him  great,  as  greatness  is  properly  understood,  in 

D.-4 


50 


LIFE  OF  ADMIEAL  DEWEY 


the  world  of  men.  "The  hand  that  rocks  the  cradle  rules 
the  world"  was  written  of  one  of  America's  best-loved 
and  most  patriotic  women ;  and  true  it  'is  in  the  present 
instance  that  the  hand  that  rocked  the  cradle  in  which 
nestled  the  future  Admiral  of  the  American  navy  had 
much  to  do  with  ruling  a  good  portion  of  the  world  in 
this  year  of  our  Lord  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-nine. 


HOUSE  AT  MONTPELIER  IN  WHICH  ADMIRAL  DEWEY  WAS  BORN 

The  mother-influence  is  strong  with  the  child  for  the  rea 
son  that  it  is  she  who  has  most  to  do  with  it  during  the 
impressionable  years  of  infancy  ;  and  while  George  Dew- 
ey's  mother  passed  away  when  he  was  yet  of  tender 
age,  it  is  still  true  that  her  influence  for  good  is  seen  in 
all  the  years  since  passed.  Through  the  noted  families 


ff  '         S 


DR.  JULIUS  YEMANS  DEWEY  — THE  ADMIRAL'S  FATHER 


BIRTH  AND  CHILDHOOD  53 

of  Holyoke  and  Talcott,  Mary  Perrin  descended  from 
Nicholas  Pynchon,  who  was  high  sheriff  of  London  in 
1532,  treasurer  of  Massachusetts  Colony,  and  founder  of 
Springfield.  The  Holyoke  family  has  had  much  to  do 
with  the  upbuilding  of  the  western  and  southern  sections 
of  Massachusetts,  while  the  Talcotts  have  ever  been,  and 
still  are,  among  the  solid  promoters  of  the  welfare  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut.  And,  while  this  line  of  honored  an 
cestry  doubtless  has  a  right  to  some  measure  of  credit 
for  the  character  of  our  esteemed  hero,  it  is  to  his  mother 
that  the  principal  degree  of  praise  is  due  for  many 
of  his  excellent  qualities.  She  was  a  woman  who  loved 
her  children,  and  considered  no  sacrifice  too  great  if  it 
would  in  any  measure  add  to  their  personal  comfort  or 
advancement.  Mary  Perrin  was  born  in  Berlin,  Vt.,  in 
the  year  1799,  and  was  one  of  the  many  children  of  Mary 
Talcott  and  Zachariah  Perrin.  Her  girlhood  was  not  un 
like  that  of  any  other  child  in  the  neighborhood  of  her 
home.  The  school  which  she  attended  was  established  by 
Mrs.  Willard  at  Middlebury,  Vt.,  but  has  since  been 
removed  to  Troy,  N.  Y.  The  education  thus  obtained  emi 
nently  fitted  her  for  any  station  in  life  which  she  might 
be  called  upon  to  fill.  She  came  from  a  family  which 
valued  the  best  things  in  life,— education,  integrity,  good 
books, —  and  was  conscientious  to  the  last  degree.  After 
an  engagement  of  two  years,  she  married  Julius  Yemans 
Dewey,  a  rising  young  physician  of  Montpelier.  Together 
they  came  to  the  cottage  home  which  he  had  provided,  op 
posite  the  State  House  gate,  and  in  which  all  four  of  her 
children  were  born.  The  home  was  a  happy  one,  and  the 


54  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

industrious  young  wife  was  a  true  helpmeet  to  the  young 
doctor,  so  full  of  strength,  courage,  and  ambition.  Her 
library  of  books  was  not  a  numerous  one,  but  was  com 
plete  with  such  works  as  those  of  Shakespeare,  Burns, 
Cowper,  and  that  other  sweetest  of  all  the  singers  of  his 
day,  Thomas  Moore.  "Lalla  Rookh"  was  among  her  fa 
vorites,  and  even  now  the  sentences  she  loved  and  marked 
are  the  delight  of  her  children  and  grandchildren  of  to-day. 
She  was  also  an  admirer  of  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,  and  read 
his  works  with  much  interest.  In  appearance  George 
Dewey's  mother  was  stately;  her  home  ever  scrupulously 
neat  and  orderly,  and  her  conduct  exemplary,  as  that  of 
her  much-loved  son  is  said  to  be  in  all  respects.  Like 
her  husband,  she  was  ever  doing  good  deeds  and  scat 
tering  seeds  of  kindness  wherever  she  went,  till  finally 
in  the  performance  of  an  errand  of  mercy  she  con 
tracted  the  cold  which  terminated  in  her  death.  But 
her  spirit  still  lives  to  bless  mankind.  Her  contribution 
to  the  welfare  of  humanity,  in  the  son  who  has  earned 
the  right  to  so  warm  a  place  in  the  affections  of  the 
American  people,  is  not  a  small  one ;  and  a  people  would 
be  ungrateful  indeed  who  did  not  accord  to  her,  equally 
with  her  husband,  a  place  in  the  pages  of  history  as  the 
mother  of  such  a  man  as  Admiral  George  Dewey. 

Much  has  been  said  and  written  of  George  Dewey  as 
a  man  and  as  an  officer  in  the  Navy,  but  little  attention 
has  been  given  to  those  years  of  his  life  when  character 
was  being  formed  and  when  the  foundations  were  laid, 
upon  which,  in  after  years,  was  builded  the  manly  qual 
ities  and  noble  attributes  found  to-day  in  the  hero  of 


ETHAN  ALLEN 
Statue  on  the  porch  of  the  State  House,  Montpelier 


BIRTH  AND  CHILDHOOD 


57 


Manila  Bay.  While 
searching  for  data 
concerning  the  child- 
life  of  George  Dewey, 
the  author  addressed 
a  letter  of  inquiry  to 
the  Admiral's  sister, 
and  through  her  has 
been  able  to  discover  ! 
what  seems  to  be  a  - 
most  important  fac 
tor  in  influencing 
the  career  of  the  boy, 
the  youth,  and  the 
man  in  the  years 
since  passed. 

As  has  already 
been  stated  else 
where,  our  hero  lost 
his  mother  at  the  tender  age  of  five,  and  his  father,  a 
country  doctor,  found  himself  called  upon  to  take  the 
place  of  both  father  and  mother  to  his  orphaned  chil 
dren.  His  leisure  hours  were  always  spent  with  his 
little  ones,  entertaining  them  now,  instructing  them 
again,  and  ever  seeking  to  guide  them,  by  speech  or 
song,  in  the  path  of  honor  and  duty.  George  was 
termed  his  "  little  hero,"  and  many  an  hour  sat  upon 
his  father's  knee  and  listened  to  song  or  story  till  his 
very  soul  seemed  stirred  by  the  recital  to  its  utmost 
depths.  One  song  more  than  any  other  appeared  to 


THE       LITTLE  HERO" 


58  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

interest  the  little  listener.  It  was  a  tale  of  the  woes 
and  misfortunes  of  a  child  like  himself,  but  whose  life 
was  made  doubly  sad  and  lonely  by  the  absence  of  his 
father  in  the  Navy,  defending  his  country's  flag.  Follow 
ing  are  the  words  of  the  song:  — 


THE   POOR   LITTLE   CHILD   OF   A   TAR 

IN  A  little  blue  garment,  all  ragged  and  torn, 

With  scarce  any  shoes  to  his  feet ; 
His  head  all  uncovered,  a  look  quite  forlorn, 

And  a  cold,  stony  step  for  his  seat  — 

A  boy  cheerless  sat,  and  as  travelers  passed, 

With  a  look  that  might  avarice  bar, 
"  Have  pity/'  he  cried,  "  let  your  bounty  be  cast 

On  a  poor  little  child  of  a  tar. 

"No  mother  have  I,  and  no  friends  can  I  claim, 

Deserted  and  cheerless  I  roam  ; 
My  father  has  fought  for  his  country  and  fame, 

But,  alas,  he  may  never  come  home. 

"  By  cruelty  driven  from  a  neat,  rural  cot, 
Where  once  in  contentment  she  dwelt, 

No  friend  to  protect  her,  my  poor  mother's  lot 
Alas  !  too  severely  she  felt. 

"  Bowed  down  by  misfortune,  Death  called  her  his  own, 

And  snatched  her  to  regions  afar ; 
Deserted  and  friendless  I  was  then  left  to  roam, 

The  poor  little  child  of  a  tar." 

Thus  plaintive  he  cried,  when  a  traveler  who  passed, 

Stopped  a  moment  to  give  him  relief ; 
He  stretched  forth  his  hand,  and  a  look  on  him  cast, 

A  look  full  of  wonder  and  grief. 


BIRTH  AND  CHILDHOOD  59 

"  What,  my  Willie,"  he  cried,  "  my  poor  little  boy, 

At  last  I've  returned  from  the  war. 
Thy  sorrows  shall  cease,  nor  shall  grief  more  annoy 

The  poor  little  child  of  a  tar." 

As  the  song  progressed  tears  would  fill  the  eyes  of 
the  little  sympathizer,  and  in  his  anxiety  lest  the  "poor 
little  child  of  a  tar"  should  suffer,  he  would  interrupt 
the  song  to  suggest  means  for  relieving  his  distress. 
But  the  climax  was  reached  when  the  father  returned 
from  the  war  and  found  his  destitute  child,  and  young 
George  would  fairly  dance  for  glee  to  think  that  the 
child's  sufferings  were  at  an  end.  This  song  always  left 
a  deep  impression  on  our  hero's  mind,  and  he  would 
talk  about  it  for  hours  at  a  time. 

And  who  shall  say  that  right  here  was  not  laid  the 
foundation  for  the  desire  which  in  the  later  years  in 
spired  George  Dewey,  the  youthful  student,  to  seek  ad 
mission  to  the  Naval  Academy  at  Annapolis,  and  in  the 
still  later  years  gave  to  the  world  its  most  eminent  and 
truly  great  naval  commander?  George  Dewey  as  a  child 
was  active  and  playful,  impetuous  and  fond  of  out-door 
sports,  yet  tender  and  sympathetic ;  as  a  youth,  manly, 
studious,  fond  of  reading,  music,  and  those  associations 
which  elevate  and  inspire  to  acts  of  heroism  and  noble 
deeds.  And  here,  in  her  own  words,  is  his  loving  sister's 
tribute  to  his  character  as  a  man:  "And  now  he  is  a 
quiet  gentleman  of  finest  feelings,  thoughtful,  kind,  and 
loyal.  Not  so  effusive  as  many  persons,  but  sincere.  A 
friend  to  trust  in  time  of  trouble." 


60 


LIFE  OF  ADMIEAL  DEWEY 


And  what  higher  measure  of  praise  can  be  imagined? 
The  world  is  filled  with  men  just  as  loyal  and  just  as 
brave  as  George  Dewey;  but  few  men  possess  all  the 
qualities  which  go  to  make  the  all-'round  man  so  clearly 
illustrated  in  his  life  from  childhood  till  threescore  years 
of  age. 


CHAPTER   III 
A  HAPPY  BOYHOOD 

LEADER  IN  ALL  GAMES  OF  SPORT  OR  MISCHIEF  — HIS  FIRST 
CRUISE-SCHOOL  DAYS  AT  MONTPELIER  — THE  PANGBORN 
INCIDENT 

IDMIRAL  GEORGE  DEWEY  was  a  boy 
of  but  thirteen  when  he  started 
out  on  his  career  as  a  naval  hero. 
The  waters  navigated  were  those 
of  the  Winooski  Eiver,  which 
flowed  past  his  father's  home  in 
Montpelier.  The  season  was 
springtime,  and  the  melting 
snows  of  the  Vermont  mountains 
had  swollen  the  river  to  over 
flowing  banks.  Just  below  Mont 
pelier  there  was  at  that  time  a  convenient  fording  place 
used  by  the  people  thereabouts  as  a  short  cut  from  their 
homes  in  and  out  of  the  city.  Doctor  Dewey,  the  future 
admiral's  father,  had  sent  young  George  with  horse  and 

(61) 


"P  etti  e"ij'&  ac  ci  d  e  txi-  in.  tUt  r tv  er. 


62 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


wagon  to  perform  some 
errand  at  the  home  of 
a  neighboring  farmer, 
cautioning  him,  how 
ever,  to  go  around  by 
the  bridge  and  not  at 
tempt  to  ford  the  river, 
as  it  was  dangerous. 
But  the  temptation  to 
shorten  the  distance 
was  too  great  to  be 
overcome,  and  George 
boldly  drove  his  horse 
into  the  turbulent 
waters.  He  soon  found 
himself  floating  down 
the  stream,  the  horse 
plunging  in  an  effort  to  save  his  own  life,  and  George 
himself  was  obliged  to  leave  the  wagon  and  trust  to  his 
faithful  dumb  companion  to  get  him  ashore  in  safety. 
But  get  ashore  he  did,  though  thoroughly  frightened  and 
effectually  cured,  for  the  time  being  at  least,  of  disobedi 
ence.  He  reached  home,  in  a  drenched  and  forlorn  con 
dition,  without  having  done  the  errand  assigned  him.  He 
was  immediately  put  to  bed,  and  his  father  sent  for.  On 
his  arrival,  the  kind  and  indulgent  doctor  at  first  began 
to  scold,  but  George  interrupted  him  with  the  plea,  "You 
ought  to  be  thankful  that  I'm  alive,  and  not  scold  me 
because  I  didn't  get  drowned."  The  doctor  turned  away, 
and  the  subject  was  never  mentioned  by  him  again. 


GEORGE    DEWEY'S  FIRST  CRUISE 


A  HAPPY   BOYHOOD  63 

Dewey  was  always  adventurous.  It  is  related  of  him 
by  his  former  associates  that  no  hill  was  too  long,  no 
precipice  too  steep,  for  him  to  coast  with  his  sled.  Coast 
ing  in  Montpelier  was  then,  as  now,  a  favorite  pastime 
for  the  young.  From  Seminary  Hill  to  State  House  gate 
-a  distance  of  more  than  one  mile  —  was  an  ordinary 
coast  for  George  Dewey.  The  hill  back  of  the  State 
House,  so  precipitate  as  to  be  deemed  by  others  unsafe 
for  coasting,  was  a  favorite  spot  for  the  hero  of  Manila 
and  such  of  his  associates  as  dared  to  follow  his  lead. 

Dewey  was  especially  happy  on  the  ice,  where  it  was 
his  delight  to  jump  over  airholes  and  skate  over  thin 
ice  which  would  bend  beneath  his  weight ;  and  many, 
many  times  his  companions  pulled  him  out  of  the  water 
when  he  had  taken  too  great  a  risk  and  fallen  into 
an  airhole  or  broken  through  the  ice.  A  danger  signal 
seemed  only  to  inspire  him  to  more  daring  deeds.  He 
did  not  believe  he  was  born  to  be  drowned  in  the 
Winooski  River,  and  thus  far  he  has  escaped  such  fate. 

For  a  great  many  years  the  first  day  of  Legislature 
in  Vermont  was  a  gala  day  in  the  Capital  City.  Peo 
ple  came  there  from  miles  around.  Circus  crowds  were 
no  comparison.  Gingerbread  and  sweet  cider  took  the 
place  of  the  peanuts  and  pink  lemonade  of  to-day.  On 
these  occasions  the  boys  of  other  towns  came  along  to 
test  their  muscle  with  local  youths.  George  Dewey  al 
ways  took  a  prominent  part  and  retired  invariably  with 
flying  colors. 

Adventure  upon  adventure  was  the  lot  of  the  future 
hero  of  Manila.  It  had  become  the  custom  for  the  older 


64  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

people  to  say,  on  hearing  of  some  remarkable  feat  of 
daring  or  skillful  trick,  "Well,  that  Dewey  rascal  is  at 
it  again."  The  saying,  "Boys  will  be  boys,"  has  a  true 
application  to  George  Dewey.  He  had  time  for  all  kinds 
of  pranks,  yet  there  was  no  brighter  boy  in  school  than 
he,  who,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  when  attending  the  old 
Montpelier  Academy,  was  studying  Latin  and  Greek  roots. 


FORD  OF  THE  WINOOSKI  RIVER,  MONTPELIER 

His  father  had  always  wished  to  have  him  enter  the 
Army,  and  sent  him  to  Norwich  University,  a  military 
training  school,  for  that  purpose.  But  George's  eyes  were 
on  the  sea,  and  he  teased  his  father  so  much  that  his 
scruples  against  the  Navy  were  overcome,  and  through  his 
influence  a  cadetship  in  the  United  States  Naval  Academy 


A  HAPPY   BOYHOOD  65 

at  Annapolis  was  secured  for  the  lad,  when  he  was  in 
his  seventeenth  year. 

George  Dewey  was  a  great  boy  to  do  things  no  other 
boy  dared.  One  of  these  was  to  remain  under  water 
while  swimming.  One  of  the  future  Admiral's  chums 
had  beaten  his  record,  and  he  started  out  to  make  a 
new  one.  The  swimming  basin  was  in  the  Winooski 
River,  at  the  head  of  Main  Street,  in  Montpelier.  Dewey 
dived  under  the  water  and  remained  there  so  long  that 
a  howl  went  up  from  his  companions  that  he  had  been 
drowned.  Several  men  rushed  into  the  river,  and  after 
fishing  around  pulled  him  out.  His  face  was  purple. 
The  first  thing  he  inquired  after  getting  his  breath  was 
if  he  beat  the  other  fellow.  He  was  also  the  means  of 
saving  one  of  his  companions  while  swimming. 

Another  favorite  pastime  of  young  Dewey  was  to  run 
down  the  State  House  steps  blindfolded.  The  distance  is 
over  one  hundred  yards,  with  small  terraces  intervening, 
making  it  very  dangerous.  A  single  miscalculation  would 
mean  a  broken  head  or  limb.  Dewey  never  missed  the 
gate.  The  crowning  feature  of  the  whole  adventure  was 
to  walk  so  straight  that  he  would  not  bump  the  high 
iron  fence. 

George  Dewey  was  always  full  of  boyish  pranks,  —  not 
what  would  be  termed  mean  actions,  but  what  in  college 
would  be  termed  "  practical  jokes."  Doctor  Dewey  in 
those  days  kept  several  cows,  and  George  was  wont  to 
boast  to  his  young  companions  that  one  of  them  was  a 
saddle-cow.  To  prove  this  he  would  take  the  boys  to  the 
pasture,  approach  one  of  the  most  domestic  animals  and 


D— 5 


66 


LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


assist  one  of  the  boys  to  her  back.  Thoroughly  frightened, 
the  animal  would  rush  about  the  pasture,  kicking  and 
bellowing,  until  the  entire  herd  was  in  an  uproar,  and  the 
unfortunate  boy  on  her  back  clinging  for  dear  life.  This 
joke  usually  ended  at  the  bars  nearest  the  house,  with 
the  would-be  equestrian  on  the  other  side  of  the  bars. 


SWIMMING  POOL,  WINOOSKI  RIVER,  MONTPELIER 

Of  course,  this  joke  could  be  played  on  only  one  boy  at 
a  time,  but  furnished  much  amusement  to  all  the  lads  of 
the  neighborhood,  who  in  their  turn  had  the  experience. 

George  Dewey,  as  a  boy,  was  more  than  usually  keen 
of  perception,  quick  to  decide,  especially  in  time  of 
danger.  On  one  occasion,  he  probably  saved  his  life 
by  quickly  knowing  what  to  do  in  an  emergency. 


A  HAPPY   BOYHOOD  67 

Doctor  Dewey  in  that  day  warmed  his  home  with  wood 
fires,  his  wood-yard  always  being  well  supplied  with  logs 
of  maple.  Sometimes  it  was  found  necessary,  in  working 
up  these  logs  for  fire-wood,  to  split  them  open  with  a 
blast  of  powder.  George  had  seen  his  father  do  this, 
and  one  day  called  all  his  companions  into  the  yard 
to  show  them  how  to  blast.  Selecting  a  heavy  and 
unusually  knotty  log  for  his  experiment,  he  bored  a 
good-sized  hole  in  the  centre  of  the  log,  filled  it  with 
powder,  and  laying  a  fuse  or  line  of  powder  to  the 
charge,  plugged  the  hole  and  lit  the  fuse.  For  some 
reason,  the  powder  failed  to  explode,  and  some  of  the 
boys  more  venturesome  than  the  others  rushed  forward 
to  ascertain  the  reason  why.  George  threw  himself  before 
the  boys  and  commanded  them  to  "  Stand  back !  First 
you  know  you  will  be  killed.  That's  dangerous  ! "  After 
having  driven  the  other  boys  to  a  safe  distance,  George 
himself  advanced  to  the  log  to  ascertain  the  cause  of 
the  failure  to  explode.  He  had  hardly  reached  the  log 
when  the  explosion  took  place,  filling  his  face  with 
powder  and  setting  fire  to  his  clothes.  In  the  yard 
near  by  stood  a  sunken  barrel  filled  with  water  for  the 
stock,  and  into  this  barrel  plunged  the  future  Admiral 
so  quickly  as  to  frighten  his  companions  into  supposing 
that  he  had  been  blown  there  by  the  explosion.  But 
his  promptness  saved  his  life,  extinguishing  the  fire  and 
even  preserving  his  face  from  any  permanent  marks  of 
the  burning  powder. 

Among    George    Dewey's    schoolmates    at    Montpelier, 
during    the    years    1847-50,  were    John    P.   Demeritt    and 


68  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

J.  E.  Wright,  both  of  whom  are  now  preachers  of  the 
Gospel.  In  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Wright,  written  soon 
after  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Demeritt 
relates  the  following  as  among  his  many  recollections  of 
George  Dewey :  — 

I  knew  George  quite  well  as  a  boy  at  school,  and  saw  him  take 
his  whipping  there  which  he  has  often  said  kept  him  out  of  prison. 
We  once  tapped  maples  together  in  the  grove  of  his  father's  pasture 
At  a  picnic,  May  1st,  which  began  on  the  hill  above  the  State  House 
and  for  some  reason  was  transferred  or  ended  in  the  State  House  yard, 
he  and  I  nearly  came  to  blows,  he  having  misused  a  mug  of  mine,  for 
which  I  proposed  to  pound  him ;  but  he  was  ready,  although  a  younger 
boy  —  at  a  time,  too,  when  years  made  quite  a  difference.  This  brush 
was  stopped  by  the  girls,  in  which  I  remember  Mary  Silver  took  the 
leading  part.  George  is  naturally  daring,  and  I  regard  him  as  a  very 
superior  officer  —  the  best  we  have. 

Louis  Wood,  one  of  Montpelier's  stalwart  policemen, 
was  a  schoolfellow  with  George  Dewey  during  the  last 
four  years  of  his  days  at  Montpelier  Academy.  The 
friendship  then  formed  between  them  has  been  intensi 
fied  with  the  passage  of  years,  and  the  old  schoolmate 
now  has  many  interesting  tales  to  tell  of  George  Dewey 
as  a  boy. 

"George  was  a  boy  who  stood  by  his  friends,"  said 
Mr.  Wood,  in  conversation  with  the  writer.  "He  always 
took  the  weaker  ones'  parts.  My  parents  were  French 
Catholics.  In  those  days  there  was  some  feeling  between 
the  Catholic  and  Protestant  boys,  and  it  was  quite  the 
thing  for  some  of  them  larger  than  myself  and  a  younger 
brother  to  catch  us  alone  somewhere  and  give  us  a 
trouncing.  I  remember  that  George  Dewey  would  always 


A  HAPPY  BOYHOOD  71 

take  our  part,  and  never  would  allow  larger  boys  to 
attack  us.  It  often  happened  that  the  assault  would  be 
as  two  to  one.  In  those  instances  you  would  always 
find  the  future  Admiral  of  the  Navy  demanding  fair 
play,  and  one  at  a  time.  I  never  knew  him  to  be  other 
than  perfectly  fair  in  anything.  He  might  stand  by  and 
see  a  fight,  and  enjoy  it,  without  interfering  to  stop  it 
in  any  way ;  but  the  moment  two  pitched  on  to  one  he 
was  ready  to  take  a  hand  himself.  Of  course,"  said  Mr. 
Wood  in  conclusion,  "I  have  not  seen  much  of  him  since 
he  went  away  to  school.  He  was  in  the  Navy  and  I  in 
the  volunteer  service  in  the  Army  during  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion.  But  we  never  quite  lost  track  of  each 
other,  and  I  am  proud  that  he  was  my  associate  in 
boyhood." 

George  Dewey,  like  many  another  man  who  achieved 
greatness  before  the  end  of  his  allotted  span,  was  in 
his  young  days  as  boyish  a  boy  as  he  is  now  found  to 
be  a  manly  man.  Dewey's  school  days  in  Montpelier 
were  short,  as  he  left  there  to  enter  a  private  school 
when  not  more  than  thirteen  years  of  age.  Many  anec 
dotes  are  told,  however,  to  illustrate  the  disposition  of 
the  boy  even  at  that  tender  age,  to  demonstrate  his 
right  to  leadership  among  his  associates. 

Major  Z.  K.  Pangborn,  now  a  resident  of  New  Jersey, 
and  for  thirty  years  editor  of  the  Jersey  City  Evening 
Journal,  relates  with  much  bravado  a  story  of  how  he 
once  whipped  George  Dewey.  This  was  in  the  fall  of 
1849,  when  Dewey  was  not  yet  twelve,  when  the  peda 
gogue  accepted  the  unenviable  position  of  teacher  of  the 


72  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Montpelier  district  school.  The  anti-teacher  brigade,  of 
which  Dewey,  though  young  and  small,  was  the  recog 
nized  leader,  was  said  to  have  been  in  rebellion  for  a 
long  time,  and  to  have  driven  out  several  of  the  pre 
ceptors  who  had  the  temerity  to  undertake  their  gov 
ernment.  Pangborn  was  a  small  man,  weighing  not  much 
more  than  one  hundred  pounds,  but  considered  himself 
an  athlete  and  believed  himself  capable  of  handling  any 
number  of  boys  who  might  become  his  antagonists. 
When  Pangborn  appeared  at  school  the  first  day  of  the 
session,  he  is  said  to  have  noticed  the  future  hero  of 
Manila  up  in  a  tree,  throwing  snowballs  at  boys  smaller 
than  himself.  Pangborn  told  him  quietly  he  must  stop 
that,  as  such  conduct  would  not  be  tolerated.  In  reply, 
the  teacher  was  told  to  go  to  -  -;  but  Dewey  did  not 
come  down. 

School  went  smoothly  enough  that  day  and  for  sev 
eral  days  thereafter,  but  the  shrewd  preceptor  could  see 
that  trouble  was  brewing,  so  he  provided  himself  with 
a  tough  rawhide  whip,  which  he  tucked  away  over  the 
door  where  he  could  get  hold  of  it  when  wanted,  and 
awaited  results. 

At  the  close  of  school  on  the  first  day  of  the  second 
week  of  the  term,  the  boys  decided  to  have  some  sport 
with  their  new  instructor.  It  was  winter  time,  and  there 
were  several  feet  of  snow  on  the  ground.  They  decided 
to  lie  in  ambuscade,  and  hied  themselves  to  a  meeting 
house,  which  stood  near  the  school,  the  belfry  of  which 
the  boys  were  accustomed  to  enter  and  ring  the  bell  for 
want  of  something  else  to  do.  Young  George  was  the 


A  HAPPY  BOYHOOD 


73 


accepted  captain  of 
the  company,  and 
placed  one  detach 
ment  of  his  force  in 
the  belfry,  armed  with 
well-packed  snowballs, 
while  the  others  were 
stationed  at  conven 
ient  positions  to  come 
out  at  the  proper  mo 
ment  and  reinforce  the 
attack  of  the  battery 
in  the  belfry.  The 
teacher's  appearance 
was  the  signal  for  per 
fect  silence.  As  he  ap 
proached  the  church, 
entirely  unconscious  of  the  hot  reception  prepared  for  him 
by  the  boys,  he  was  greeted  with  a  volley  of  snowballs 
from  the  church  tower.  At  a  signal  from  their  leader 
his  comrades  closed  in  on  the  victim.  It  was  a  short, 
sharp  battle,  but  the  boys  seemed  to  have  the  best  of  it, 
and  the  teacher  finally  gave  it  up  and  beat  a  hasty 
retreat.  During  the  "scrap,"  however,  several  of  the  boys 
were  handled  roughly  by  the  pedagogue,  and  the  bolder 
ones,  who  came  within  reach  of  his  strong  arms,  went 
down  head  over  heels  into  the  deep  snow.  During  this 
engagement  at  close  range  the  future  Admiral  was  on 
top  of  the  schoolmaster,  but  managed  to  keep  out  of  his 
clutches. 


BATTLE  OF  SNOWBALLS 


74  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  eighth  day  of  school,  the 
fun  commenced.  Another  boy  who  was  disorderly  was 
ordered  to  take  his  seat.  He  did  so,  and  nearly  all  the 
larger  boys  in  the  school  joined  him  on  the  bench.  Then 
the  boy  whose  daring  entrance  into  Manila  Bay  electrified 
the  world  stepped  up  and  coolly  informed  the  teacher 
that  they  were  going  to  give  him  the  best  licking  he 
had  ever  had  in  his  life.  "  You  take  your  seat,  sir,"  com 
manded  the  teacher.  But  Dewey  did  not  start  for  his 
seat.  On  the  contrary,  he  reached  for  the  teacher,  but 
missed  him,  and  the  next  instant  the  rawhide  was  wind 
ing  about  his  legs,  head,  and  ears  in  cyclone  fashion. 
Another  boy  entered  the  contest  and  was  as  promptly 
laid  low  by  a  blow  with  a  hickory  club  from  the  wood 
pile.  By  this  time,  Dewey  was  subdued  and  appealing 
for  mercy.  The  rebellion  was  over  and  Mr.  Pangborn  held 
the  school  until  the  end  of  the  term  without  further 
trouble. 

At  the  close  of  the  school  that  day,  Dewey  was  taken 
home  to  his  father  by  the  teacher,  who  presented  him  to 
his  fond  parent  with  the  statement  that  he  had  brought 
him  his  son  somewhat  the  worse  for  wear,  but  still  in 
condition  for  school  work.  "Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  the 
dignified  Doctor  Dewey.  "George  will  not  give  you  any 
more  trouble.  If  he  has  not  been  sufficiently  punished 
for  his  misconduct  at  school,  he  can  have  more  at  home. 
He  will  be  at  school  to-morrow  the  same  as  usual."  And 
he  was.  The  father  of  the  other  boy  tried  to  get  a  war 
rant  for  the  arrest  of  the  schoolmaster,  but  no  magis 
trate  could  be  found  in  the  town  who  would  issue  one, 


A  HAPPY  BOYHOOD  75 

as  every  one  said  that  if  any  man  could  be  found  who 
would  govern  that  school,  he  was  the  man  for  the  place. 
Long  before  the  end  of  the  term,  George  Dewey  and 
Teacher  Pangborn  became  the  best  of  friends,  the  friend 
ship  then  formed  having  continued  thus  far  through  life. 
Under  Dewey's  inspiration  and  admonition  the  other  boys 
also  fell  into  line,  and  the  Montpelier  district  school 
became  as  famous  in  after  years  for  its  studious  and  or 
derly  attendance,  as  it  had  once  been  notorious  for  its 
want  of  study  and  lack  of  discipline.  Years  after  this 
event,  George  Dewey  paid  a  visit  to  Major  Pangborn  at 
his  home  in  Boston.  Speaking  one  day  of  those  early 
experiences  in  Vermont,  Dewey  said  to  his  former  tutor: 
"I  shall  never  cease  to  be  grateful  to  you.  You  made  a 
man  of  me.  But  for  that  thrashing  you  gave  me  in 
Montpelier,  I  should  probably  have  been,  ere  this,  in  State 
prison."  Dewey  was  at  this  time  a  young  lieutenant  in 
the  Navy,  and  the  chum  of  Major  Pangborn's  brother, 
who  was  also  a  naval  officer.  The  two  spent  much  time 
at  Major  Pangborn's  home,  and  Dewey  is  always  spoken 
of  as  "one  of  our  boys."  Pangborn  says  that  this  is  the 
only  recorded  instance  in  which  George  Dewey  was  ever 
beaten  in  battle.  His  former  schoolmates,  however,  tell  a 
different  story,  and  while  all  concede  that  he  was  rarely 
ever  beaten  in  a  contest  single-handed,  it  not  infrequently 
happened  that  the  odds  were  against  him  and  he  often 
went  home  "the  worse  for  wear." 

Dewey 's  early  associates  are  not  pleased  with  Major 
Pangborn's  boasts  of  victory  over  their  former  school 
mate  and  friend,  and  many  of  them  to-day  assert  that 


76 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


the  pedagogue  would  have  had  much  the  worst  of  the 
battle  had  the  contest  been  even-handed  without  weapons. 
Though  Pangborn  was  a  light-weight,  Dewey  was  little 
more  than  a  child,  and  even  lighter  in  weight  and 
smaller  in  stature  than  the  teacher  who  punished  him. 
Doctor  Dewey  sustained  the  teacher  in  his  punishment 
of  the  lad,  from  a  sense  of  duty.  He  himself  had  once 
taught  school,  and  knew  the  importance  of  discipline. 
He  also  knew  that  to  take  issue  with  the  teacher  on  the 
action  referred  to,  meant  the  destruction  of  all  discipline 
in  that  school  for  the  balance  of  the  term.  But,  after 
dismissing  the  boy,  the  teacher  was  taken  into  Doctor 
Dewey's  library,  where  for  more  than  one  hour  the  two 
were  closeted  in  secret  conference,  the  purport  of  which 

can  only  be  surmised. 
It  is  said,  however,  that 
Pangborn's  whip-and- 
club  method  for  the 
maintenance  of  school 
discipline  was  imme 
diately  discontinued. 
This  part  of  the  story 
Major  Pangborn  does 
not  relate. 

George  Dewey,  as  a 
young  boy,  was  not  un 
like  other  boys  of  his 
own  circle  of  acquaint 
ances  ;  but  he  was  al- 
GEORGE  DEWEVS  FIRST  PUNISHMENT  ways  the  chosen  leader 


A  HAPPY   BOYHOOD  77 

in  their  games  or  sports.  Elsewhere  in  this  work  are 
told  stories  and  anecdotes  of  his  childhood  and  youth,  all 
going  to  illustrate  a  character  which  the  passage  of  years 
has  but  intensified  and  strengthened.  As  a  child  he 
played  marbles,  swapped  knives  with  the  other  boys, 
played  mumble-te-peg,  jacks,  four-old-cat,  hide  and  seek, 
and  all  the  other  games  known  to  Young  America  in 
that  day  and  generation.  But  one  thing  was  notice 
able.  His  kite  would  fly  a  little  the  highest,  he  was  a 
trifle  the  best  shot  at  marbles,  his  hand  a  little  steadier 
than  the  others  at  the  game  of  jacks;  and  when  some 
one  was  wanted  to  take  the  lead  in  anything,  from  play 
ing  truant  to  go  nutting,  to  the  running  away  from 
school  to  go  in  swimming,  it  was  the  future  Admiral 
who  was  called  upon  to  head  the  procession. 

And  so  his  life  was  spent  till  he  was  fourteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  followed  the  dominie  who  had  so 
soundly  trounced  him  in  the  village  school  to  a  private 
school  which  he  established  about  this  time  in  a  neigh 
boring  village.  But  George  was  not  contented  with  the 
quiet  life  which  his  family  had  led,  and  yearned  for 
something  more  exciting.  It  was  this  spirit  which  led 
him,  one  year  later,  to  prevail  upon  his  father  to  send 
him  to  the  military  academy  since  known  as  Norwich 
University,  then  located  at  Norwich,  Vt.,  but  which  has 
since  been  moved  to  Northfield  in  the  same  State.  Here 
he  was  prepared  for  West  Point,  but  here,  too,  he  acquired 
a  liking  for  the  naval  branch  of  the  government  service, 
and,  after  much  effort,  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  per 
mission  of  his  father  to  enter  the  Naval  Academy  at 


78 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


Annapolis.  A  schoolmate  of  his  at  Norwich  named  George 
Spaulding  also  wished  to  enter  the  Naval  Academy,  and 
it  so  happened  that  Spaulding  secured  the  appointment 
to  the  vacancy  then  existing  to  the  credit  of  the  State  of 
Vermont,  while  George  Dewey  was  certified  as  alternate. 
But,  as  is  often  the  case,  the  alternate  entered  the  class, 
and  George  Spaulding  became  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel  in 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  is  reported  to  have  preached  an  elo 
quent  discourse  to  an  interested  congregation,  May  15, 
1898,  on  the  subject  of  his  former  schoolmate's  great 
naval  victory. 


til  or 


aud    H-ud^ott  J&iver. 


CHAPTER   IV 
NORWICH  UNiyERSITY 

PREPARATORY  SCHOOL  OF  THE  ADMIRAL  — A  "  NURSERY  OF 
HEROES"  — SKETCH  OF  ITS  FOUNDER  AND  OF  GEORGE 
DEWEY'S  PRECEPTOR 

OKWICH  UNIVERSITY,  of  Northfield, 
Vt.,  sometimes  called  "the  nurs 
ery  of  heroes,"  which  has  always 
been  poor  and  struggling,  never 
having  had  a  cent  of  endowment, 
was  founded  in  1819  by  Captain 
Alden  Partridge.  He  graduated 
from  West  Point  in  1806,  served 
there  as  professor  of  mathematics 
and  of  engineering,  and  in  1816- 


emy.  A  man  of  arbitrary  will  and  independent  views, 
he  became  at  odds  with  his  superiors,  and  in  1818  re 
signed  his  commission.  He  then  established  at  Norwich, 
Vt.,  his  birthplace,  the  "American  Literary,  Scientific,  and 


(79) 


80  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Military  Academy,"  which  retained  this  name  until  1834, 
when  it  was  incorporated  Norwich  University.  Its  build 
ings  at  Norwich  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1866,  and  the 
university  was  removed  to  Northfield,  Vt.,  on  account  of 
inducements  offered  by  the  citizens  of  the  latter  place. 
Captain  Partridge  was  president  of  the  institution  until 
1843,  and  was  succeeded  by  Colonel  Truman  B.  Ransom, 
who  resigned  his  chair  to  command  the  Ninth  (New  Eng 
land)  Regiment  in  the  War  with  Mexico.  The  latter  fell 
at  the  head  of  his  regiment  in  the  assault  on  Chapultepec, 
his  last  words  being,  "Forward  the  Ninth!" 

Of  Norwich  University  it  may  be  said,  as  Daniel 
Webster  said  of  Dartmouth,  "It  is  a  small  college,  but 
there  are  those  who  love  it,"  and  its  record  in  the 
country's  military  and  naval  annals  is  one  of  which  its 
alumni  may  well  be  proud.  General  Sherman  in  paying 
a  public  tribute  to  one  of  its  cadets  spoke  of  "Norwich 
University,  then,  as  since,  a  college  of  great  renown," 
and  said:  "This  military  school  at  one  time  almost 
rivaled  the  National  Military  Academy  at  West  Point, 
and  there,  many  a  man  who  afterwards  became  famous 
in  the  Mexican  War  and  Civil  War,  drank  in  the  in 
spiration  of  patriotism  and  learned  the  lessons  of  the 
art  of  war,  which  enabled  him,  out  of  unorganized 
masses  of  men,  to  make  compact  companies,  regiments, 
and  brigades  of  soldiers,  to  act  as  a  single  body  in  the 
great  game  of  war."  More  than  five  hundred  of  the 
graduates  and  past  cadets  have  served  in  the  Army  or 
Navy,  and  many  have  gained  high  rank  or  been  con 
spicuous  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services.  A  roll  of 


D.— C 


NORWICH  UNIVERSITY  83 

honor  recently  compiled  includes  the  names  of  five 
hundred  and  twenty-one  past  cadets  who  have  served 
the  flag  of  their  country,  and  shows  that  the  university 
has  furnished  to  the  army  six  major-generals,  eight 
brigadier-generals,  two  surgeon-generals,  fourteen  colonels 
and  brevet  brigadier-generals,  thirty-five  colonels,  thirty- 
four  lieutenant-colonels,  twenty-four  majors,  ten  majors 
and  surgeons,  seven  captains  and  assistant  surgeons,  one 
hundred  and  fifty-five  captains,  sixty-eight  first  lieuten 
ants,  and  twenty-three  second  lieutenants.  To  the  Navy 
it  has  supplied  one  admiral,  four  rear-admirals,  five  com 
modores,  three  captains,  one  chaplain,  three  commanders, 
one  lieutenant-commander,  and  eight  lieutenants. 

Admiral  Dew^ey  is  the  second  cadet  of  Norwich  Uni 
versity  to  command  the  Asiatic  squadron,  the  first  being 
Rear-Admiral  Charles  C.  Carpenter,  who  was  in  charge 
of  the  squadron  during  the  war  between  China  and 
Japan.  Still  earlier  a  past-cadet  attracted  attention  on 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  this  being  Commodore  Josiah  Tattnall, 
first  of  the  United  States  and  then  of  the  Confederate 
navy,  who  in  1857  aided  the  English  vessels  in  their  en 
gagement  with  the  Chinese  at  Pei-ho,  and  explained  his 
act  by  the  famous  saying :  "  Blood  is  thicker  than  water." 
At  its  last  commencement  the  university  conferred  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Military  science  upon  Admiral 
Dewey,  he  being  the  first  recipient  of  it  in  the  last 
fifty  years. 

Among  its  representatives  in  the  Navy,  besides  those 
already  mentioned,  have  been  Rear-Admirals  Hiram 
Paulding  and  Charles  S.  Boggs,  Pay-Director  William 


84 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


B.  Boggs,  Captain 
George  M.  Colvo- 
coresses,     Com 
mander  George 
A.  Converse,  and 
Captain  James  H. 
Ward,  who  is  said 
to  have  been  the 
first  naval  officer 
killed  in  the  Civil 
War,  being  shot 
on  June  27,  1861, 
while  sighting  a 
gun,  in  the  attack 
of  his  gunboat 
flotilla    on    Mat 
thias  Point.    The 
list  of  past-cadets 
in  the  Army  in 
cludes     Brevet 
Major-General 
Thomas  E.G.  Ran 
som  (son  of  Colonel  Truman  B.  Ransom),  who  died  while 
leading  the  Seventeenth  Corps  in  the  pursuit  of  Hood,  and 
was  ranked  by   both   Grant   and   Sherman  as   among  the 
ablest  of  their  volunteer  generals ;   Major-General  Robert 
H.  Milroy,  who,  after  gallant  service  in  the  Mexican  War, 
distinguished  himself  in  the  Civil  War,  and  at  Winchester, 
Va.,  in   command   of   the   Second   Division,   Eighth   Corps, 
resisted  nearly  the  whole   of  Lee's   army  for  three   days, 


CAPTAIN  ALDEN  PARTRIDGE 
Founder   of   Norwich    University 


NORWICH   UNIVERSITY  85 

until  his  ammunition  and  provisions  were  exhausted,  and 
then  cut  his  way  out  by  night;  Major-General  Grenville  M. 
Dodge,  who  commanded  the  Sixteenth  Corps  in  Sherman's 
Georgia  campaign,  and  at  Atlanta,  where  he  was  severely 
wounded,  with  eleven  regiments  withstood  a  whole  army 
corps ;  Brigadier-General  F.  W.  Lander,  who  died  early 
in  the  Civil  War,  after  brilliant  services  at  Philippi,  Rich 
Mountain,  Blooming  Gap,  and  elsewhere  ;  Brevet  Major- 
General  Truman  Seymour,  who  served  with  high  credit 
in  both  the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars,  and  led  a  division 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  and  the  Richmond  campaign  j 
Brigadier-General  Seth  Williams,  also  a  Mexican  veteran, 
who  was  adjutant-general  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac ; 
and  so  many  others  who  attained  distinction  that  space 
forbids  a  continuance  of  the  roll.  Among  the  military 
representatives  of  Norwich  in  the  war  with  Spain  may  be 
mentioned  Brigadier-General  E.  B.  Williston  and  Colonel 
Edmund  Rice,  of  whom  General  Miles  recently  wrote 
that  he  "had  the  best  regiment  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac." 

The  present  head  of  the  university  is  a  retired  naval 
officer,  Commander  Allan  D.  Brown.  The  United  States 
Government  details  an  officer  from  the  active  list  of  the 
army  for  duty  as  professor  of  military  science  and  tactics, 
and  sends  an  inspecting  officer  to  make  a  yearly  examin 
ation  of  the  discipline  and  drill.  Small  as  the  college  is, 
and  remote  from  large  cities,  associations  of  its  alumni 
are  maintained  in  Boston  and  New  York.  The  officers  of 
the  New  York  Alumni  Association  are  as  follows :  Presi 
dent,  Grenville  M.  Dodge,  '53 ;  vice-presidents,  Cyrus  H. 


86 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


r** 


BOURNS 


president  of  Norwich  University, 

1850-1865 


Fay,  '37  ;  Clayton  E.  Rich,  '63  ;  Wil 
liam  R.  Mead,  '64  ;  William  M.  Rum- 
baugh,  76  ;  secretary  and  treasurer, 
Robert  L.  Irish,  '89. 

From  an  excellent  article  by  N. 
L.  Sheldon  in  the  New  England  Mag 
azine  for  March  1899,  we  learn  many 
most  interesting  facts  about  this 
justly  celebrated  educational  insti- 
tution,  and  we  have  drawn  upon  it 
for  B>  portion  of  the  remainder  of 
this  chapter. 

In  September  1850,  Reverend  Edward  Bourns,  LL.D., 
became  president  of  the  university.  Doctor  Bourns  was 
born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  had  secured  his  educa 
tion  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  having  taken  the  degree 
of  B.  A.  in  1833.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1837, 
and  was  for  several  years  professor  of  ancient  lan 
guages  at  Hobart  College.  He  was  a  man  of  peace  by 
profession,  and  better  versed  in  canon  law  than  in  cannon 
balls.  It  may  seem  strange  that  a  military  college 
should  have  a  clerical  head,  but  it  is.  well,  perhaps,  to 
maintain  an  equilibrium  of  forces.  "There  was  plenty 
of  latent  fire  among  the  cadets,  and  they  were  ready 
at  any  time  to  explode,  like  so  many  cans  of  nitro 
glycerine;  but  the  cassock  generally  kept  the  mastery  of 
the  Cossack,  and  the  science  of  war  was  peacefully  pur 
sued."  Certain  it  is  that  the  boys  would  have  as  soon 
thought  of  bearding  a  lion  in  his  den  as  the  doctor  in 
his  study. 


NORWICH  UNIVERSITY  87 

One  of  his  former  pupils  has  recently  said  of  him :  — 

Dr.  Bourns  was  no  ordinary  man.  The  intrinsic  force,  native 
shrewdness,  and  genial  kindness  of  his  nature  made  him  generally 
respected  and  admired.  He  was  a  man  of  learning  and  acumen.  He 
was  a  voluminous,  careful,  and  exhaustive  reader,  yet  never  at  any 
time  in  his  addresses,  in  conversation,  or  in  discussion,  did  he  betray 
the  consequence  of  the  pedant,  or  assume  to  be  other  than  a  sincere 
inquirer  after  truth.  The  doctor  had  never  belonged  to  a  military 
organization,  but  somehow  he  had  acquired  the  swinging  stride  of 
the  modern  soldier,  and  in  his  best  days  at  Norwich  it  was  a  pleasant 
and  invigorating  sight  to  see  him  take  a  constitutional  across  the 
parade.  When  standing  erect,  his  height  was  six  feet  two  inches, 
with  a  framework  —  a  breadth  of  shoulder,  a  development  of  muscle, 
and  massive  limbs  —  in  equal  proportions.  He  endeared  himself  to 
the  members  of  the  corps  of  cadets  by  his  eminent  attainments,  his 
kindly  sympathy,  his  delicate  and  incisive  wit.  It  has  been  truly 
said  that  no  one  ever  entered  the  doctor's  presence  on  the  briefest 
errand  who  did  not  depart  wiser  than  he  came. 

Associated  with  Doctor  Bourns  during  this  period  was 
General  Alonzo  Jackman,  LL.D.,  as  professor  of  military 
science,  mathematics,  and  civil  engineering.  General  Jack 
man  was  born  at  Thetford,  Vt.,  in  1809,  graduated  from 
Norwich  University  at  its  first  commencement  in  1836 
with  the  degree  of  B.  A.,  and  spent  most  of  his  life  in  her 
service.  He  was  for  several  years  brigade  drill -master  of 
the  New  Hampshire  militia.  In  1859  he  was  commis 
sioned  colonel  of  the  Second  Vermont  Infantry,  and  the 
same  year  became  brigadier-general  of  the  State  troops. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  war  of  the  States,  Governor  Fair 
banks  offered  him  any  position  in  his  power  to  grant, 
but  earnestly  requested  him  in  these  words  to  remain 
with  the  university :  "  There  is  a  duty,  a  very  patriotic 


88 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


GENERAL  ALONZO  JACKMAN 

Instructor  of  George  Dewey  In 
Military  Science 


duty  for  you  to  perform;  that  is  to 
remain  at  the  Military  College  and 
qualify  young  men  for  duty  as  offi 
cers  ;  and  thus  you  will  do  your 
State  the  best  service."  Like  a  true 
soldier  he  stayed  where  duty  called 
him,  inspected  and  got  into  readi 
ness  the  old  militia,  organized  new 
companies  and  regiments,  and  sent 
out  cadet  officers  to  drill  companies 
in  different  parts  of  the  State,  as 
he  was  notified  of  their  formation. 
Regimental  officers  from  different 
States  went  to  him  for  instruction  at  the  university. 
To  his  skill  and  energy  is  due  the  efficient  manner  in 
which  the  Vermont  troops  were  sent  forward  to  the 
seat  of  war.  Much  honor  is  due  him  for  the  result  of 
his  work  on  behalf  of  the  State  of  Vermont.  His  indus 
try  was  untiring,  and  his  clear,  precise,  thorough  instruc 
tions  to  officers  and  men  were  of  great  value  to  them  in 
service.  He  was  a  close  student  and  every  inch  a  sol 
dier.  His  delight  was  in  mathematics,  in  which  he  ex 
celled,  and  he  was  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  natural 
sciences.  He  was  thoroughly  in  earnest  in  whatever  he 
undertook.  "Gentlemen,"  he  would  say,  "you  see  this  dot 
in  the  centre  of  the  circle  ?  It  begins  to  grow  smaller— 
grows  smaller — smaller — it  vanishes!  "  One  held  his  breath 
at  "  vanishes "  on  account  of  the  tragical  way  in  which  he 
said  it,  with  upturned  face  and  flashing  eye.  Then  came 
further  explanation,  wound  up  with  this  characteristic 


NORWICH   UNIVERSITY  89 

expression:    "I    have    now    introduced    you    to    the    very 
poetry  of  mathematics." 

The  period  from  1850  to  1860  was  particularly  produc 
tive  of  cadets  who  have  since  distinguished  themselves  in 
both  war  and  peace.  "The  university  domain  of  this 
time/'  says  a  member  of  the  class  of  '54,  "  comprised  the 
North  and  South  Barracks,  the  former  being  for  commons 
and  indoor  drill,  literary  exercises,  and  church  services  on 
Sundays ;  the  latter,  for  barracks  and  attendant  purposes. 
The  Congregational  Church  was  just  across  the  common, 
in  front  of  the  North  Barracks,  and  the  northerly  side 
of  the  square.  The  parade  ground  was  in  front,  extend 
ing  to  the  street,  and  the  tall  flag-staff,  with  topmast  and 
cross-trees,  stood  on  the  western  edge.  The  barracks  were 
of  brick,  four  stories,  truncated  roof,  with  passageways 
running  the  length  of  each  floor.  The  president's  room 
and  headquarters  were  on  this  floor,  also  the  library,  with 
cabinets,  etc.  General  Jackman's  room  was  on  the  sec 
ond  passage,  immediately  over  the  entrance.  The  large 
recitation  room  was  over  this,  and  in  it  were  read  morn 
ing  and  evening  prayers.  The  armory  was  the  centre 
front  of  the  fourth  passage.  Roll-calls  were  had  in  this 
second  passage,  the  right  resting  on  the  north.  The 
rooms  wTere  practically  alike ;  numerous  chimneys  pro 
vided  each  pair  of  adjoining  rooms  with  fireplaces,  or 
later,  with  opportunity  for  stoves,  the  space  between  the 
chimney,  passage,  and  outer  wall  being  for  closets, —  thus 
offering  one  unbroken  side  to  each  apartment.  These 
rooms  were  all  whitewashed  with  a  tint  known  by  the 
cadets  as  'brindle.'  There  were  no  bedsteads,  mattresses, 


90  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

or  carpets.  A  wooden  bunk,  three  feet  wide,  with  slat 
bottom,  held  the  blankets  and  recumbent  cadet,  and  was 
turned  up  against  the  wall  before  morning  inspection. 
Over  the  bunk  was  the  gun  rack,  with  wooden  pegs,  on 
which  were  suspended  the  musket  and  equipments.  Over 
the  front  door,  and  between  the  centre  window  and  that 
next  to  the  south,  were  the  cabalistic  letters,  scrawled 
in  chalk,  but  somehow  always  kept  fresh,  however  often 

they  were  erased  :  - 

B.  E.  D. 

& 
E.  M. 

-the  first  letter  having  originally  been  P.  and  then  R.,  and 
finally,  in  our  day,  B.  This  was  understood  by  the  initi 
ated  to  mean,  'Bourns  (Partridge,  Ransom)  Expels  Devils 
and  Educates  Men ' ;  although  the  cynics  sometimes  re 
versed  the  translation  so  as  to  provide  for  the  education 
of  devils  and  the  expulsion  of  men.  The  cadet  uniform 
was  the  claw-hammer  drill  coat  with  three  rows  of  cadet 
buttons,  dark  blue  pants  with  two-inch  black  velvet  stripe 
down  the  seam,  'bell  muzzle,'  high,  blue  cloth  cap  with 
gold  band ;  for  undress,  the  single-breasted  frock,  soft 
blue  cap  with  velvet  band  and  the  letters  N.  U.  in  a  gold 
wreath  in  front ;  white  trousers  were  worn  in  summer. 
The  old  flint-lock,  twelve-pound  Springfield  musket  was 
used;  the  text-book  was  'Scott's  Infantry  Tactics.'" 

The  strictest  order  did  not  always  reign  at  Norwich 
Plain,  nor  was  it  always  quiet  on  the  Connecticut.  From 
time  immemorial,  that  is  to  say  from  the  foundation  of 
the  university,  a  feud  had  raged  between  the  cadets  and 


NORWICH   UNIVERSITY 


91 


the  students  at  Dartmouth,  across  the  river.  Many  raids 
and  encounters  had  taken  place,  in  regard  to  which 
tradition  had  much  to  say. 

The  cadets  were  inferior  in  numbers  to  their  classical 
antagonists,  but  they  were  filled  with  martial  ardor  and 
utterly  unwilling  to  admit  that  the  stylus  is  mightier 
than  the  sword.  The  prevailing  opinion  among  them 


A  CADET-OFFICER'S  ROOM  AT  NORWICH  UNIVERSITY 

seemed  to  be  that  Dartmouth  must  be  destroyed.  The 
discipline  of  the  university  prevented  the  attempt  by 
any  well-organized  expedition  to  accomplish  this  favorite 
object,  but  it  was  not  sufficient  to  restrain  individual 
cadets  from  hostile  incursions  into  the  enemy's  country. 
Bristling  with  daggers  and  revolvers,  which  they  never 
had  a  serious  thought  of  using,  it  is  said  that  two  or 
three  together  would  cross  the  river  at  night,  either  by 


92  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

bridge  or  boat,  and  parade  the  streets  of  Hanover,  or 
penetrate  even  to  "Tempe's  pleasant  vale,"  with  a 
marked  disregard  of  the  dangers  they  incurred.  Fre 
quently  they  succeeded  in  provoking  hostilities,  and  then 
they  displayed  the  gallantry  which  afterward  distin 
guished  them  upon  larger  fields.  When  greatly  out 
numbered,  as  they  usually  were,  they  would  fall  back 
to  the  river  with  a  celerity  to  which  Xenophon's  famous 
retreat  furnishes  no  parallel.  If  they  discovered  that  the 
bridge  was  disputed  they  took  to  boats,  or  if  these  were 
not  to  be  found,  a  flank  movement  up  or  down  the 
river  to  a  fording  place  was  executed  in  a  masterly 
manner,  and  the  barracks  gained  some  time  before  re 
veille.  The  casualties  were  always  few,  but  the  fun  and 
glory  were  considerable.  On  one  of  those  quiet  escapades 
a  cadet  returned  to  the  barracks  with  his  coat  very 
much  "  ripped-up-the-back."  This  was  considered  a  suf 
ficient  casus  belli,  and  an  encounter  followed  on  the 
Dartmouth  side  of  the  Connecticut,  which  tradition  calls 
the  "Battle  of  Torn  Coats,"  wherein  the  cadets,  although 
greatly  outnumbered,  gained  a  decisive  victory. 

For  many  years  commencements  were  held  in  the 
old  Congregational  Church,  but  in  1853  difficulties  be 
tween  town  and  gown  culminated.  The  faculty  were  of 
the  Episcopal  faith  in  an  orthodox  community,  and  the 
church  was  refused.  In  a  delightful  dell  in  the  woods 
just  back  of  the  town  a  platform  was  erected,  draped 
with  flags,  and  flanked  by  the  two  shining  cannons  then 
just  allotted  the  institution,  and  here  a  very  pleasant 
commencement  was  held.  But  "a  spirit  of  reprisal  was 


NORWICH  UNIVERSITY  93 

engendered  among  the  cadets,  evidenced  by  Frary's  old 
white  horse  found  by  the  sexton  one  Sunday  morning 
in  the  main  aisle  of  the  church ;  by  the  village  bier 
chained  to  the  elm  in  front  of  Benjamin  Burton's,  with 
the  deacon's  effigy  suspended  above,  and  kindred  pranks. 
A  truce  was  called,  amity  succeeded,  and  thereafter  the 
church  was  at  our  disposal." 

"A  notable  event  of  those  days  was  the  visit  to 
Fort  Ticonderoga.  By  rail  to  Winooski,  just  out  of 
Burlington,  marching  up  the  hill,  topping  its  crest  to 
look  down  upon  the  city  and  beautiful  Lake  Champlain; 
forming  around  Ethan  Allen's  grave  in  the  cemetery  on 
the  hill,  and  marching  to  quarters  in  town,  the  observed 
of  all ;  the  trip  down  the  lake  on  the  Francis  Saltus,  the 
occupancy  of  Ticonderoga,  and  our  reception  along  the 
line  were  things  to  evoke  pleasant  memories  after 
the  lapse  of  many  years.  The  formation  was  a  battalion 
of  four  companies,  with  Major  (afterwards  General)  Jack- 
man  in  command.  The  same  year  we  went,  by  invita 
tion,  to  Claremont,  N.  H.,  on  July  4,  and  gave  an 
exhibition  drill." 

It  was  amid  such  surroundings,  in  the  fifties,  and 
under  the  principal  instruction  of  Doctor  Edward  Bourns 
and  General  Alonzo  Jackman,  that  a  long  list  of  heroic 
men,  some  of  whom  have  served  their  country  with 
distinction  in  two  conflicts,  drank  in  the  first  inspira 
tions  of  war.  A  member  of  the  class  of  '52  has  recently 
remarked:  "I  believe,  and  the  belief  grows  upon  me, 
that  no  institution  of  New  England  at  this  time  offered 
better  opportunities  for  a  complete  education."  The 


94  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

cadet  roster  of  those  days  contains  many  names  which 
have  since  been  written  high  up  on  the  scroll  of  fame, 
seeming  to  bear  out  the  truth  of  the  above  statement. 

At  this  time,  no  chapter  on  Norwich  University  could 
even  approach  completeness,  without  some  particular 
mention  of  Admiral  Dewey's  cadetship  there.  It  was 
in  the  fall  of  1851,  after  having  received  some  special 
preparation  at  Johnson  (Vermont)  Academy,  that  George 
Dewey  became  a  cadet  at  Norwich  University,  where  he 
remained  more  than  three  years.  His  father  was  anxious 
to  give  his  children  the  best  educational  advantages  pos 
sible,  and  his  attention  was  called  to  Norwich  University 
as  an  institution  giving  a  thorough  mental  and  physical 
training.  Soon  after  his  son  entered,  Doctor  Dewey  be 
came  an  active  trustee.  He  was  succeeded  in  1868  by  his 
son,  the  Honorable  Charles  Dewey,  Admiral  Dewey's  eldest 
brother. 

A  member  of  the  class  of  1855  has  recently  said  of 
young  Dewey:  "We  have  always  called  him  'Doc'  Dewey. 
I  suppose  it  was  because  his  father  was  a  physician.  He 
was  the  first  to  drill  me  in  squad  drill  after  I  entered 
the  old  South  Barracks.  He  became  proficient  in  drill 
and  was  captain  of  my  company  when  we  went  to  Bur 
lington  and  Ticonderoga.  He  was  as  full  of  fun  as  an 

egg  is  full  of  meat,  and  he  and  'Bill  E '  were  the 

most  popular  cadets.  His  room  was  a  popular  resort 
for  us,  when  off  duty.  Doctor  Dewey  had  no  bad  quali 
ties.  He  was  a  manly  fellow  and  fond  of  music.  Many 
a  time  have  we  congregated  in  Dewey's  room  and  sung 
'Old  South  Barracks,  Oh!'  He  was  the  'pink  of  neat- 


NORWICH  UNIVERSITY  97 

ness'  in  his  dress.  His  father,  then  an  active  trustee, 
frequently  called  at  the  barracks.  He  once  asked  me  if 
George  was  studying,  and  if  I  thought  he  would  gradu 
ate,  and  I  was  able  to  inform  him  that  he  would  surely 
graduate.  He  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  'Battle  of 
Torn  Coats/  We  always  felt  safe  when  Doc.  Dewey  was 
with  us.  Well  do  I  remember  the  day  he  was  notified 
of  his  appointment  at  Annapolis,  and  our  regret  at  his 
leaving  us." 

In  the  summer  of  1853  the  faculty  succeeded  in  pro 
curing  from  the  State  two  6-pound  field  pieces,  with  lim 
bers,  to  replace  the  cumbrous  and  antiquated  iron  cannon 
in  use  at  that  time.  The  story  of  how  they  were  taken 
from  the  railway  station  to  the  parade  ground  is  told  in 
Cadet  K—  -'s  diary  as  follows :  — 

Thursday,  July  21,  1853.  We  have  had  an  exciting  time  this 
afternoon.  The  new  guns  arrived  by  the  morning  train,  and  we 
took  the  old  pieces  down  and  drew  the  new  ones  to  quarters.  They 
are  United  States  brass  6-pounders,  fully  equipped  for  service,  and 
as  they  rest  in  position  in  front  of  the  South  Barracks,  covered  with 
their  tarpaulins,  present  quite  an  imposing  aspect.  It  was  a  tedious 
job  removing  them  from  the  car.  .  .  .  Unloaded  and  limbered 
up,  Ainsworth  and  Munson  chose  squads  to  draw  them  to  the  parade. 
I  chanced  to  be  in  Ainsworth's  squad.  We  lined  up,  the  men  at 
their  places,  with  bricoles  attached,  and  started  quietly  enough  for 
the  long,  hard  pull.  Ainsworth's  squad  at  this  time  conceived  the 
idea  of  taking  the  lead,  but  as  Munson's  squad  had  the  road  ahead 
and  we  were  at  the  side  and  in  sandy  gutters,  it  was  doubtful  how 
we  were  to  do  it.  They  started  off  with  a  fine  spurt,  getting  a  big 
lead ;  going  up  the  hill  where  the  road  was  broader  we  steadily 
gained  until  only  the  length  of  the  trail  in  the  rear;  then  we  gath 
ered  and  started  on  a  run,  passing  and  keeping  the  lead,  with  cheers 
and  great  glee.  Climbing  the  hill  we  proceeded  more  slowly, 
D— 7 


98 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


Munson   quietly  in    the    rear,  on    our  way   round    the   North   Barracks 
and    then    through    the    usual    gateway    to    position. 


DEWEY  HALL-SHOWING  PART  OF  THE  INTERIOR 

As  we  entered  the  village,  near  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
parade,  we  noticed  Munson's  squad,  apparently  under  the  lead  of 
Dewey,  making  for  a  short  cut  across  the  grounds,  first  breaking 


NORWICH   UNIVERSITY  99 

down  the  fence  for  passage.  Now  our  efforts  were  redoubled,  and 
the  boys  of  the  other  squad  declare  that  they  never  saw  fellows 
run  as  we  ran,  or  expect  to  see  a  gun  jump  as  that  6-pounder 
bounded  along  the  main  street  and  around  the  corner.  But  we 
led ;  round  the  North  Barracks  at  double-quick  went  gun  and 
gun  squad,  entered  the  barrack  yard  and  placed  the  gun  in  posi 
tion  before  the  west  front  of  the  South  Barracks,  giving  three 
cheers  for  No.  1,  to  the  chagrin  of  No.  2,  just  approaching  posi 
tion.  ...  It  was  a  great  race  and  pleased  the  faculty  exceed 
ingly.  .  .  . 

It  is  plainly  to  be  seen  that  Dewey  retains  his  old 
predilection  for  a  straight  cut  without  regard  to  obstacles, 
caring  no  more  for  Corregidor  and  the  mines  in  the 
harbor  of  Manila  than  for  the  fence  guarding  the  uni 
versity  parade,  or  the  sacred  turf  of  the  inclosure,  in 
the  race  for  position  with  the  guns  at  Norwich  Univer 
sity  in  1853. 

Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Manila,  friends  of 
Norwich  University  started  a  popular  movement  to  raise 
funds  with  which  to  build  an  addition  to  that  institu 
tion,  to  be  called  Dewey  Hall.  The  State  legislature  was 
asked  for  an  appropriation  to  further  the  project,  and  a 
letter  was  addressed  to  George  Dewey,  asking  his  ap 
proval  of  the  enterprise.  To  this  letter  he  replied  as 
follows:  — 

MY  DEAR  SIR: — -Replying  to  your  letter  of  August  2  last.  I 
have  great  pleasure  in  stating  that  in  my  opinion  results  have  shown 
the  excellent  training  young  men  have  received  at  the  Norwich 
University. 

That  the  university  is  well  worthy  the  fostering  care  of  the 
State  goes  without  saying,  and  I  trust  the  legislature  may  see  its 
way  clear  to  vote  some  substantial  assistance. 


100  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Nothing  the  State  could  now  do  for  me  would  give  me  greater 
pleasure.  Very  truly  yours, 

GEORGE    DEWEY, 

Rear-Admiral,  U.   S.   N. 

Ground  was  broken  for  Dewey  Hall  on  the  Univer 
sity  campus  on  Dewey  Day,  May  1,  1899.  Impressive 
ceremonies  were  held,  in  which  members  of  the  Admiral's 
family  and  many  distinguished  persons  from  the  New 
England  States  participated.  Captain  Clark  of  the  Ore 
gon,  himself  a  son  of  Vermont,  was  one  of  the  speakers 
of  the  occasion. 

Our  illustration  of  the  building  is  a  copy  of  the  ele 
vation  drawing  of  the  architect.  In  style  the  building 
is  to  be  a  simple  adaptation  of  the  classic,  the  detail 
being  Greek.  Effect  is  sought  by  the  careful  proportion 
ing  of  masses  without  elaborate  ornamentation.  Above 
the  entrance  door  will  be  placed  some  symbol  emble 
matic  of  the  Navy,  and  on  either  side  will  be  tablets 
for  appropriate  inscriptions.  The  predominating  feature 
of  the  design  is  the  central  hall,  which  is  open  from 
floor  to  dome.  Opposite  the  entrance  door  a  grand  stair 
case  will  lead  to  a  gallery  at  the  second  floor  level, 
from  which  access  may  be  had  to  the  surrounding  rooms. 
Upon  the  walls  there  will  be  ample  spaces  for  memorial 
tablets  and  framed  historic  documents.  In  the  centre  of 
this  hall,  in  front  of  the  staircase,  and  in  view  from  the 
entrance,  the  wings,  and  the  gallery,  will  be  placed  a 
statue  of  Admiral  Dewey.  Dewey  Hall  will  be  an  im 
posing  structure,  and  a  fitting  memorial  to  a  worthy 
example  of  the  University's  graduates. 


TUuvai 

CHAPTER   V 
THE  NAVAL  ACADEMY 

DEWEY   AT   ANNAPOLIS  — CADET   LIFE   AND   DISCIPLINE  — A  CRIT 
ICAL   PERIOD   IN   THE   NATION'S   HISTORY 

[EORGE  DEWEY  entered  the  Naval 
Academy  in  the  freshman  class 
of  1854,  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
and  proved  to  be  one  of  the  very 
brightest  students  in  the  class. 
5^%^-,  His  preparation  at  Norwich  Uni 
versity  had  been  a  thorough  one, 
and  he  passed  the  entrance  ex 
amination  without  trouble.  But 
this  examination  is  a  hard  one, 
and  a  lad  less  determined  than 
the  embryo  hero  of  Manila  would  have  failed  to  pass  it. 
Every  candidate  must  show  his  ability  to  write  legibly  and 
rapidly  and  to  read  correctly.  He  must  be  able  to  spell 
properly,  and  is  required  to  prove  his  qualifications  in  this 

(101) 


102  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

respect  by  writing  from  dictation.  In  arithmetic  proficiency 
is  required  in  numbers,  common  and  decimal  fractions, 
ratio  and  proportion,  the  solution  of  problems  based  on  the 
measurement  of  rectangular  surfaces  and  solids,  in  square 
root  and  cube  root,  in  percentage,  interest,  and  discount. 
A  thorough  knowledge  of  arithmetic  is  required  in  every 
branch;  for,  having  obtained  admission  to  the  Academy, 


30.  BANCROFT, 

Secretary  of  the  Hairy 


TABLET  IN  COMMEMORATION  OF  OCTOBER  10,  1845 

the  candidate  finds  that  all  his  time  will  be  required  for 
higher  mathematics.  There  is  an  examination  in  algebra 
of  an  elementary  character,  but  the  candidate  must  have 
its  fundamental  rules  well  grounded  in  his  mind.  In  Eng 
lish  grammar  the  candidate  must  be  able  to  define  the 
parts  of  speech  and  the  rules  bearing  on  them,  at  the 
same  time  showing  conclusively  that  he  comprehends  and 
grasps  the  subject ;  he  must  also  parse  correctly.  The  series 


THE   NAVAL  ACADEMY  105 

of  questions  he  is  required  to  answer  cover  orthography, 
etymology,  and  syntax  thoroughly.  In  geography,  the 
main  questions  are  based  on  our  own  country,  but  the 
examination  requires  definitions  which  call  for  a  com 
plete  and  specific  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  geo 
graphy,  and  the  lad  trying  for  admission  cannot  know  too 
much  about  the  United  States.  In  history,  the  candidate 
will  find  that  if  he  has  not  slighted  his  schoolbooks  he 
will  be  at  home  in  the  examination.  Of  course  he  must 
be  well  acquainted  with  the  history  of  his  own  country. 
He  must  know  something  about  the  colonial  wars,  causes 
of  the  Revolution,  about  the  Navigation  and  Stamp  Acts, 
writs  of  assistance,  the  names  of  battles  and  commanding 
officers,  with  results  of  battles,  and  leading  events.  He 
must  be  able  to  tell  something  about  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States ;  how  it  was  formed  and  adopted,  and 
name  all  the  Presidents  of  the  United  States.  All  this 
and  more  is  required  of  every  candidate  for  admission  to 
the  Annapolis  Naval  Academy.  The  boy  of  whom  we 
write  passed  the  examination  with  credit  to  himself,  and 
with  many  points  to  spare,  and  was  admitted  to  the  school 
as  a  fourth  classman,  and  entered  upon  his  duties. 

In  the  first  year  of  his  cadetship  at  the  academy 
we  find  George  Dewey  perfecting  himself  in  history - 
Grecian,  Roman,  and  European — and  historical  geography. 
Algebra  and  geometry  were  also  among  his  first  year's 
subjects,  while  he  was  drilled  thoroughly  in  English 
grammar,  the  rules  of  punctuation,  and  the  division  of 
words  into  syllables.  That  he  might  become  the  better 
prepared  for  the  second  year's  work,  he  was  required 


106 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


to    take  a  course   in    French,   and   is   said  to    have   been 
an   unusually  apt   pupil   in   the   language. 

The  first  year  of  a  cadet's  life  at  the  academy  is  a 
trying  one  to  most  boys.  The  first  thing  one  must  get 
accustomed  to  is  being  looked  down  upon  and  treated 
with  all  sorts  of  rough  usage  from  the  higher-class  men. 


QUARTERS  FOR  THE  SICK  AT  THE  NAVAL  ACADEMY 

A  "plebe"  is  often  hazed  out  of  the  school  discouraged. 
But  that  was  not  the  case  with  the  Green  Mountain  boy 
from  Montpelier.  Many  boys  squirm  under  the  severe 
discipline  of  the  academy;  but  by  George  Dewey  it  was 
accepted  as  a  matter  of  course.  It  was  nothing  new  for 
him  to  be  called  early  in  the  morning,  and  the  morning 


THE   NAVAL  ACADEMY 


107 


inspection  of  quarters  is  said  to  have  always  found  his 
room  in  a  scrupulously  neat  condition ;  the  mirror  was  as 
clean  as  soap,  water,  and  the  chamois  skin  could  make  it, 
while  his  student  lamp  and  study  table  were  not  only 


LIBRARY  BUILDINGS,   NAVAL  ACADEMY,  ANNAPOLIS 

clean,  but  in  a  condition  which  plainly  showed  they  were 
there  for  use  rather  than  for  ornament.  In  one  corner 
of  his  room  there  was  a  shelf  well  filled  with  books,  and 
when  the  future  Admiral  was  not  engaged  in  the  study 
of  his  lessons,  or  busy  in  the  recitation  room  or  on  the 


108  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

common  at  drill,  he  could  have  been  found  in  his  room 
with  a  copy  of  some  standard  work  by  a  well-known 
author  open  before  him.  Not  that  he  was  not  fond  of 
outdoor  life  and  gymnasium  exercise  ;  both  were  required 
as  a  part  of  the  regular  routine  of  the  school ;  but  Dewey 
was  known  among  the  cadets  as  a  man  who  was  there 
for  a  purpose  higher  than  the  mere  getting  of  a  com 
mission  to  enable  him  to  wear  a  fine  uniform  and  earn 
an  easy  livelihood  in  the  service  of  the  government.  His 
was  a  loftier  aim  than  that;  he  sought  to  excel  in  every 
thing  he  undertook.  George  Dewey  was  at  Annapolis  for 
the  purpose  of  acquiring  a  knowledge  which  would  enable 
him  to  serve  his  country  in  time  of  peace,  and  defend  it 
in  time  of  war.  That  he  might  be  prepared  to  perform 
that  service  well,  he  sought  the  special  education  which 
was  afforded  only  at  the  Naval  Academy.  But  he  was 
there  for  work,  and  his  associates  all  knew  it.  Obeying 
orders  was  one  of  his  characteristics.  This  he  learned  at 
the  academy,  and  the  discipline  and  painstaking  care 
with  which  every  move  was  made  and  every  shot  fired 
in  Manila  Bay  on  that  eventful  Sunday  of  May  1,  1898,  is 
but  an  evidence  of  the  great  value  of  that  same  rigid 
accounting  to  which  every  student  is  held  who  enters 
the  academy  at  Annapolis,  and  which  has  given  to  the 
United  States  Navy  the  best-trained  officers  of  any  navy 
in  the  world. 

The  daily  routine  of  cadet  life  at  Annapolis  accounts 
for  every  hour  of  time  from  6:00  A.M.  till  10:00  P.M., 
as  follows:  6:00,  morning  gun  and  reveille;  6:45,  roll  call 
and  prayers;  7:00,  breakfast;  7:30,  sick  call;  7:56,  call  to 


THE   NAVAL  ACADEMY 


111 


studies;  8:26  to  12:45,  recitations;  1:10  P.M.,  dinner;  2:00 
to  3:50,  recitations;  4:05,  drill;  5:15,  recall;  5:20,  evening 
roll  call  and  parade;  6:30,  supper;  7:15,  gymnasium ;  7:30 
to  8:00,  evening  studies;  9:30,  gun  fire  and  tattoo;  10:00, 
taps  (lights  out).  This  routine  is  subject  to  slight  changes 


SUPERINTENDENT'S    RESIDENCE,    NAVAL    ACADEMY,    ANNAPOLIS 

during  the  different  seasons  of  the  year.  On  arising  in 
the  morning,  the  cadet  makes  his  own  bed  and  gets  his 
room  in  order.  He  then  forms  with  his  classmates  for 
breakfast,  and  the  battalion  formation  is  inspected  by  the 
officer  in  charge.  A  report  of  the  previous  day  is  read, 
and  the  chaplain  reads  a  chapter  from  the  Bible,  which 


112  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

is  followed  by  prayer.  Two  cadets  of  the  first  class  are 
appointed  daily  to  act  as  officers  of  the  day,  and  when 
acting  in  that  capacity  they  have  no  drills  or  recitations ; 
they  have  other  important  duties  to  perform,  however,  and 
throughout  the  academy  the  rules  of  work  and  discipline 


SEAMANSHIP  ROOM  AT  THE  NAVAL  ACADEMY 

are   quite   as    severe    as  they    are   on  shipboard   during  a 
cruise. 

But  it  must  not  be  thought  that  life  at  the  academy 
is  all  work  and  restrictions,  for  that  is  not  the  case.  A 
graduate  of  the  school,  himself  a  classmate  of  Admiral 


D.-8 


THE   NAVAL  ACADEMY  115 

George  Dewey,  writing  of  Annapolis  life,  says:  "There  is 
liberty,  and  plenty  of  it.  There  is  fun  by  the  fathom. 
Some  of  it  may  be  considered  a  part  of  the  regular 
routine,  but  it  is  pleasure  just  the  same ;  for  what  could 
be  more  enjoyable  than  a  boat  drill  under  sail  out  upon 
the  broad  waters  of  the  Chesapeake?  If  the  breeze  be 
fresh,  there  is  plenty  of  excitement  in  it,  and  rivalry  is 
encouraged,  and  spurs  on  to  perfection.  Every  cadet 
must  know  how  to  pull  an  oar  and  handle  a  small 
boat  under  sail.  He  must  have  occupied  every  place  in 
a  boat  from  that  of  bowman  to  coxswain  huddled  in  his 
little  box ;  and  mighty  clever  oarsmen  do  these  light, 
slender  lads  develop  into,  and  the  way  they  can  jump 
a  big  twelve-oared  cutter  through  the  water  is  remark 
able.  But  they  have  other  sports  which  are  enjoyed  in 
common  by  every  American  schoolboy  and  collegian. 
The  rowing  clubs  possess  paper  shells  and  picked  crews 
that  compete  with  rowing  associations  and  colleges,  and, 
while  all  the  time  for  practice  in  football,  baseball,  and 
track  athletics  must  be  taken  from  their  scanty  recrea 
tion  hours,  the  cadets  from  the  Naval  Academy  have 
proven  themselves  worthy  opponents  of  the  larger  uni 
versities.  When  George  Dewey  was  at  the  academy 
there  was  an  annual  contest  on  the  gridiron  between 
teams  from  Annapolis  and  West  Point,  although  he  never 
himself  participated  except  as  a  spectator;  but  Uncle 
Sam's  managers  stepped  in,  a  few  years  ago,  and  stopped 
this  sport,  so  far  as  the  contest  between  the  two  schools 
was  concerned,  and  thus  spoiled  as  interesting  a  fight  as 
one  could  wish  to  see.  But  it  was  probably  better  so." 


116 


LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


Before  the  close  of  his  first  year  in  the  academy, 
George  Dewey  had  added  to  his  curriculum  the  Spanish 
and  German  languages,  both  of  which  he  found  useful  to 
him  when  dealing  with  the  authorities  in  Manila  Bay. 
His  skill  as  a  diplomat  has  often  been  commended ;  but 
it  should  be  understood  that  during  his  four  years  at 


LOVERS'  LANE,  NAVAL  ACADEMY  GROUNDS 

Annapolis  he  was  thoroughly  schooled  in  constitutional 
law  as  a  part  of  the  regular  course  of  study.  During 
his  second  year  he  added  to  his  list  of  studies  such  sub 
jects  as  trigonometry,  logic,  themes,  physics,  and  mechan 
ical  drawing;  these,  in  addition  to  those  undertaken  on 
entrance  to  the  academy.  Later  in  this  year  he  was  also 


THE   NAVAL  ACADEMY  117 

required  to  take  up  chemistry,  analytical  geometry,  and 
English  literature ;  and  as  the  years  went  by  the  course 
of  study  became  more  and  more  difficult.  Physics,  marine 
engines  and  boilers,  differential  calculus,  integral  calculus, 
astronomy,  the  science  of  mechanics  and  electricity,  were 
added  during  the  third  year  of  the  course.  The  fourth 
and  last  year  included,  in  addition  to  all  the  others  enum 
erated,  classes  in  seamanship,  naval  construction,  naval 
tactics,  fleet  organization,  signaling  in  every  code,  squad 
ron  evolutions ;  ordnance  instruction,  the  elastic  strength 
of  guns,  effect  of  powder  on  guns,  the  manufacture  of 
gunpowder,  etc. ;  infantry  tactics,  gunnery,  theory  and 
practice  of  navigation,  method  of  least  squares,  applied 
mechanics,  gun  carriages,  ammunition,  theory  of  the  devia 
tion  of  the  compass,  hydrographic  surveying,  international 
law,  physiology  and  hygiene,  machinery  designing,  heat 
and  analytical  chemistry.  When  this  course  of  instruc 
tion  is  considered,  it  ceases  to  be  a  wonder  that  the  man 
who  could  master  it  all,  and  graduate  at  the  close  of  the 
course  with  the  honors  of  his  class,  could  enter  the  Bay 
of  Manila  and  destroy  a  fleet  of  vessels  before  breakfast. 
And  yet  every  graduate  of  the  Annapolis  Academy  has 
passed  through  the  same  general  course  of  study  as  did 
George  Dewey,  and  there  are  doubtless  many  among  the 
number  who  would  have  accomplished  the  same  feat, 
in  naval  warfare,  as  did  he,  had  the  opportunity  ever 
presented  itself. 

The  one  sin  which  the  discipline  of  the  Annapolis 
Academy  would  never  overlook  or  condone  was  that  of 
lying.  The  cadet  who  was  inclined  to  falsehood  rarely 


118  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

ever  remained  in  the  Academy  to  the  end  of  the  course. 
And  that  is  why  the  officers  of  the  American  Navy 
always  look  you  in  the  eye  when  talking  with  you  on 
any  subject.  They  are  themselves  open  and  aboveboard 
with  everything,  and  they  expect  you  to  be  the  same 
with  them.  It  is  the  prevaricator  who  cannot  look  you 
in  the  eye  when  talking  to  you.  This  is  true  even 


CUTTER  PRACTICE,   ANNAPOLIS 


when  he  is  telling  the  truth.  It  becomes  second  nature 
with  him.  But  not  so  with  a  graduate  of  Annapolis. 
And  this  trait  is  a  strong  one  with  the  Admiral  of  the 
Navy  to-day.  He  detests  a  liar  above  all  things. 

George  Dewey  entered  the  Naval  Academy  at  a  critical 
period  in  the  nation's  history.  It  was  during  the  years 
just  preceding  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  there  were 


THE   NAVAL  ACADEMY 


121 


many  sons  of  Southern  States  in  all  the  classes  of  the 
Academy.  Animated  slavery  and  anti-slavery  discussions 
were  of  every-day  occurrence  on  the  Academy  green, 
and  the  gallant  son  of  the  Green  Mountain  State  could 
always  be  depended  on  to  espouse  the  cause  of  free 
dom.  And  what  .was  more,  he  was  ever  ready  to  de 
fend  his  position  with  muscle,  if  necessary.  He  did  not 
mind  being  called  a  "Yankee,"  for  to  him  that  was  a 


CADET  DRILL  ON    BOARD  SHIP,   NAVAL  ACADEMY 

title  rather  to  be  proud  of ;  and  it  was  not  a  difficult 
task  for  him  to  find  a  name  for  his  opponents  quite  as 
opprobrious  as  any  they  should  apply  to  him.  And  it 
is  said  of  him  that,  in  such  contests,  he  nearly  always 
came  out  best.  Young  Dewey  was  not  quarrelsome ;  but 
he  knew  when  he  was  insulted,  and  was  as  ready  to  re 
sent  an  insult  then  as  he  was  afterward  to  carry  out  the 
President's  order  to  find  and  destroy  or  capture  the  Spanish 


122  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

fleet  in  the  China  Sea.  He  had  rather  study  than  fight; 
but  he  could  do  both  equally  well,  as  the  Spanish 
admiral  in  the  Philippine  waters  can  testify.  On  one 
occasion,  when  the  future  Admiral  had  soundly  thrashed 
a  fellow-cadet  who  had  assaulted  him  because  he  dis 
agreed  with  him  on  some  point  or  other,  he  was  chal 
lenged  to  a  duel  with  pistols.  The  challenge  was 
promptly  accepted,  and  we  may  be  sure  there  would 
have  been  a  vacancy  in  some  class  the  next  morning 
had  not  some  fellow-student  informed  the  officer  of  the 
day  of  the  impending  contest  on  the  field  of  honor. 
And  the  vacancy  would  not  have  been  in  the  Vermont 
contingent  either. 

An  incident  in  George  Dewey's  life  while  a  student  at 
the  Naval  Academy  illustrates  very  forcibly  one  trait  in 
his  character  which  is  much  admired  by  those  with  whom 
he  is  familiar.  Even  as  a  child,  he  would  fight  in  a  mo 
ment  in  defense  of  the  good  name  or  reputation  of  any 
woman  or  girl  whom  he  heard  maligned  or  referred  to 
in  a  slighting  or  insulting  manner.  His  associates  in 
childhood  remark  this  in  speaking  of  his  life  in  Mont- 
pelier.  But  it  is  to  a  particular  instance  of  this  character 
that  we  wish  to  refer. 

The  time  was  during  Dewey's  thirty  days'  vacation  the 
year  before  he  graduated  from  the  Academy.  The  future 
Admiral's  sister  was  at  that  time  a  student  at  St.  Mary's 
Hall,  Burlington,  New  Jersey.  He  paid  her  a  short  visit 
on  his  way  through  to  their  home  in  Vermont,  and  in 
vited  her  to  accompany  him  to  New  York  for  an  even 
ing  at  the  theatre.  On  the  train  from  Burlington  to 


THE   NAVAL  ACADEMY 


123 


the  city  were  a  number  of  other  young  ladies  from  the 
same  school,  but  none  of  them  were  acquainted  with 
or  in  the  company  of  the  fine-appearing  naval  cadet. 
The  train  also  carried  a  number  of  young  men  of  the 
rowdy  type,  who  felt  that  it  was  quite  the  thing  to  make 
remarks  about  or  to  the  young  ladies  who  apparently  were 
without  an  escort.  Dewey's  blood  boiled  with  indigna 
tion.  He  told  his  sister  that  he  felt  like  thrashing  half  a 


NAVAL  CADETS  REPELLING  BOARDERS 


dozen  or  more  of  the  rowdies,  and  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  he  was  restrained  from  attempting  to  do  so.  The 
remarks  became  more  frequent  and  more  insulting  in  their 
character,  until  at  last  the  young  chevalier  could  stand 
it  no  longer.  Turning  on  the  foremost  among  the  rowdy 
element  he  gave  him  to  understand  that  if  he  heard  an 
other  word,  or  saw  another  move,  of  a  character  to  give 
offense  in  the  slightest  degree,  he  would  soundly  thrash 


124  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

the  whole  lot  of  them.  His  act  was  applauded  by  the 
large  number  of  passengers  in  the  car,  and  the  young 
ladies  whom  he  had  so  unexpectedly  and  so  gallantly  de 
fended  were  most  profuse  with  their  thanks  and  protes 
tations  of  obligation  to  him  for  the  service  rendered.  But 
to  George  Dewey  it  was  merely  the  duty  of  a  passing 
moment  in  his  life,  and  he  could  not  understand  why  his 
conduct  should  be  especially  commended.  To  him,  no 
gentleman  could  have  done  less  without  censure ;  then 
why  should  he  receive  commendation  for  simply  doing 
his  duty?  Would  that  there  were  more  such  defenders 
of  the  virtue  of  womanhood  among  the  young  men  of 
to-day !  For  sure  it  is  that,  in  all  the  world,  woman  has 
no  stronger  friend  than  the  gallant  Annapolis  cadet  of 
1856, — the  Admiral  of  to-day. 


TUabagiVu     m  the 

CHAPTER   VI 
77/£  MEDITERRANEAN 


DEWEY'S  INITIAL  CRUISE  —  TRAINING  AND  DISCIPLINE  ABOARD 
THE  WABASH-FIRST  MEETING  WITH  A  SPANISH  VESSEL- 
DEWEY  SHOWED  HIS  COLORS 

IEORGE  DEWEY  graduated  from  the 
Naval  Academy  in  May,  1858. 
The  class  of  '54  contained  some 
sixty  members,  but  only  four 
teen  men  finished  the  course  and 
graduated.  Dewey  was  not  at 
the  head  of  this  class,  but  was 
near  enough  to  the  head  of  the 
line  to  speak  volumes  for  his 
devotion  to  his  studies  while  in 
school.  He  was  fifth  on  that 
list  of  graduates,  which  numbered  among  its  members 
several  other  men  who  have  made  their  marks  in  the  his 
tory  of  the  United  States  Navy,  though  it  remained  for 
George  Dewey  to  eclipse  all  who  had  preceded  him  on 
the  honor  roll  of  the  American  naval  register. 

(125) 


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(127) 


128 


LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


After  a  short  vacation  at  his  home  in  Montpelier,  Vt., 
the  young  midshipman  was  ordered  to  duty  on  the  United 
States  steam  frigate  Wabash  for  his  initial  cruise  upon  the 
high  seas.  Dewey's  log  book  shows  that  the  Wabash  bore 
the  flag  of  Flag-Officer  E.  A.  F.  Lavalette,  Captain  Samuel 
Barron  being  the  commander. 

As  usual  in  all  such  cases,  the  log  book  of  the  Wabash 
opens  with  a  tabulated  statement  of  divisional  routine 
for  each  working  day  of  the  week  (see  page  127). 


EXTRACT  IN   FAC-SIMILE  FROM  GEORGE  DEWEY'S  LOG  BOOK 

Midshipman  Dewey  reported  for  duty  at  Key  West, 
Fla.,  Monday,  July  12,  1858.  The  Wabash  remained  in 
that  harbor  until  noon  of  the  twenty-second  of  that 
month,  when  she  sailed  for  the  Mediterranean.  Nothing 
unusual  seems  to  have  occurred  to  disturb  the  cus- 


D.— 9 


IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN  131 

tomary  routine  during  that  first  twelve-days'  cruise  of 
Dewey's  life  as  a  midshipman  in  the  Navy,  except  that 
one  of  his  associates  is  recorded  in  the  log  book  as 
having  been  "discharged  and  landed  with  his  effects 
upon  the  beach,  for  gross  indecency."  The  record  of 
that  voyage  to  the  Mediterranean  is  replete  with  all 
the  daily  routine  of  the  ship's  line  and  contains  many 
instances  of  more  than  passing  interest  even  at  this  late 
day,  more  than  forty  years  after  their  occurrence. 

Under  date  of  Saturday,  July  24,  Dewey  records 
having  "  passed  several  small  sails  to  leeward ;  showed 
our  colors  to  a  Spanish  bark  and  spoke  the  English 
brig  Fatvn,  of  Halifax,  from  Tortugas,  bound  for  New 
York."  This  was  the  first  time  George  Dewey  showed 
his  colors  to  the  Spaniards,  the  last  time  probably  hav 
ing  made  a  more  lasting  impression.  He  also  records 
on  the  same  date  that  the  Wabash  was  "struck  by  a 
squall  which  carried  away  the  flying  jib  boom  and  port 
foretop  mast  studding  sail  from  the  yard."  Nothing 
more  unusual  seems  to  have  occurred  until  August  17, 
when  "at  3  A.  M.,  let  go  the  starboard  anchor  in  the  har 
bor  of  Gibraltar,  in  nineteen  fathoms  of  water.  At  four 
the  *  Health  Officer'  came  alongside  to  receive  our  report 
of  health,  etc.,  put  the  ship  in  quarantine,  and  forbade 
our  communicating  with  any  vessel  whatever.  Could 
not,  therefore,  send  the  cutter  to  the  brig's  assistance. 
American  consul  came  alongside.  At  eight,  hoisted  the 
English  flag  to  the  fore  and  saluted  it  with  twenty-one 
guns,  which  was  returned  on  shore.  Received  offers  of 
attention  from  English  naval  authorities.  Saluted  the 


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(132) 


EXTRACT   IN    FAC-SIMILE    FROM    GEORGE    DEWEY'S    LOG    BOOK 


IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN 


135 


United    States    consul    with    nine    guns.      An    Egyptian 
steamer  passed   under  our  stern   and   saluted  with    three 


LANDING  AT  GIBRALTAR 


guns  and  an  American  flag  at  the  fore.     Returned  it  with 

music  and  colors.     Engaged  in  watering  and  coaling  ship." 

The   Wabash  remained  in   the   harbor  of  Gibraltar  for 

three    days,   when,    having    secured    needed    supplies,  she 


136 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


started  once  more  upon  her  journey.  The  record,  from 
time  to  time,  shows  nothing  more  unusual  than  the  pass 
ing  of  vessels  and  showing  of  colors  to  them,  and  taking 
observations  of  their  colors  in  return,  all  of  which  Dewey 
carefully  recorded  in  his  well-kept  journal. 


ROCK  OF  GIBRALTAR 

Sunday,  August  28,  the  Wabash  "let  go  her  starboard 
anchor  in  fourteen  fathoms  of  water  in  the  harbor  of 
Marseilles,  saluted  the  French  flag  at  the  fore  with  twenty- 
one  guns,  which  was  returned  from  the  shore  with  the 
same  number.  The  surgeon  went  on  board  for,  and  ob 
tained,  ' pratique.'"  Sunday,  on  shipboard,  seems  to  have 
ever  been  a  day  of  rest,  Dewey's  only  record,  except  in 


IN   THE   MEDITERRANEAN  139 

rare  instances  when  at  sea,  being  "  inspected  the  crew 
at  quarters :  at  10:30  performed  divine  service." 

The  Wabash  did  not  remain  many  days  at  her  anchor 
age,  but  weighed  anchor  and  put  out  to  sea  again  Sep 
tember  1,  and  two  days  later  dropped  it  again  in  the 
harbor  of  Genoa,  where  they  remained  for  one  week. 
While  here,  Dewey  records  briefly  many  interesting  oc 
currences,  not  forgetting  to  mention  the  customary  salu 
tations  between  the  United  States  and  other  nations, 
which  were  many  and  of  daily  occurrence. 

September  4  was  spent  by  the  ship's  crew  in  paint 
ing  the  vessel  outside.  While  this  was  being  done  the  flag 
officer  is  recorded  as  having  paid  an  official  visit  to  the 
authorities  on  shore.  On  this  day,  also,  the  Wabash  was 
honored  by  a  visit  from  the  Sardinian  admiral,  who,  when 
he  left  the  vessel,  received  a  salute  of  thirteen  guns  and 
display  of  the  Sardinian  flag  at  the  fore,  which  courtesy 
was  returned  by  the  fort  on  shore  with  the  same  num 
ber  of  guns.  While  the  Wabash  was  in  this  harbor,  the 
American  consul  at  Genoa  died  and  was  buried,  and  all 
officers  not  on  duty,  together  with  sixty  men  under  charge 
of  Lieutenant  Wood,  attended  the  funeral  of  that  official, 
September  15,  1858.  The  deceased  officer's  name,  how 
ever,  does  not  appear  in  the  record. 

September  17  seems  to  have  been  a  day  of  more 
than  ordinary  importance  on  board  the  Wabash.  An  ex 
change  of  salutations  between  that  vessel  and  the  United 
States  sloop-of-war  Macedonian,  and  another  between  the 
same  vessel  and  a  Sardinian  man-of-war  lying  in  the  har 
bor,  are  mentioned  among  the  extraordinary  occurrences 


140 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


of  the  day.  Leaving  the  harbor  of  Genoa  a  day  or  two 
later,  the  Wabash  next  dropped  her  anchor  off  Messina 
and  sent  boats  on  shore  to  communicate  with  the  Amer 
ican  consul.  While  this  was  being  done,  salutations  were 
exchanged  with  the  fort  on  shore,  the  American  vessel 
showing  the  Sicilian  flag  at  the  fore. 


APPROACH  TO  JAFFA,  SYRIA 

The  next  flag  to  receive  the  honor  of  special  recogni 
tion  by  the  American  frigate  seems  to  have  been  that  of 
Turkey,  which  was  saluted  with  twenty-one  guns  on  the 
night  of  September  26,  off  the  isle  of  Milo.  This  being 
a  dangerous  coast,  signals  were  fired  indicating  that  a 
pilot  was  wanted;  but  no  pilot  came  until  after  Lieuten 
ant  Corbin  'had  been  sent  ashore  to  find  one.  Twenty- 
four  hours  later,  the  Wabash  again  anchored  in  the  bay 
of  Smyrna,  where  she  remained  until  October  9.  During 


(143) 


144  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

her  stay  at  this  port,  Dewey  had  an  opportunity  to  wit 
ness  some  of  the  social  life  with  which  he  has  since  be 
come  so  very  familiar.  The  official  etiquette  of  the  Navy 
demands  a  rigid  adherence  to  the  customs  requiring  the 
official  exchange  of  courtesies  between  our  Navy  officers 
and  those  of  other  nations  with  whom  they  may  come  in 
contact,  and  while  our  young  midshipman  records  a  faith 
ful  discharge  of  routine  duties,  he  shows  that  there  was 
also  time  for  social  functions.  Visits  were  made  to  the 
Wabash  by  the  admiral  of  the  French  navy,  and  by  offi 
cers  of  a  lesser  rank  from  other  nationalities. 

While  in  the  harbor  of  Constantinople,  two  days  later, 
the  Wabash  was  honored  with  a  visit  from  the  United 
States  minister  to  Turkey.  Here,  Flag-Officer  Lavalette 
was  specially  invited  to  an  audience  with  the  Sultan.  He 
appears,  also,  to  have  exchanged  the  customary. courtesies 
with  naval  officers  of  other  nations  whose  vessels  were  at 
that  time  in  the  harbor  with  him. 

October  19,  1858,  appears  to  have  been  a  red-letter 
day  on  board  the  Wabash.  "At  10  A.  M.,  the  Turkish 
Minister  of  War,  Minister  of  Marine,  and  Rear-Admiral, 
together  with  the  Sultan's  guard,  came  on  board.  At 
11:25,  manned  the  yards  and  hoisted  the  Turkish  flag  at 
the  fore.  At  11:30,  the  Sultan  of  Turkey  came  on  board. 
Received  him  with  military  honors ;  hoisted  the  imperial 
standard  at  the  main  and  fore,  with  salute  of  twenty-one 
guns,  which  was  returned  by  the  Turkish  120-gun  ship. 
Ran  into  by  an  English  bark,  carrying  away  some  of  her 
awning  stanchions.  Sent  boats  to  her  assistance  and 
towed  her  clear.  At  12:15,  manned  the  yards;  the  Sultan 


8 


D.—1P 


IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN  147 

and  suite  left  the  ship ;  fired  twenty-one  guns ;  manned 
the  rigging;  gave  three  cheers,  and  hauled  down  the 
Turkish  flags.  The  Turkish  admiral  returned  the  salute 
with  the  same  number  of  guns.  At  sunset,  the  Turkish 
fleet  and  batteries  fired  a  salute  in  memory  of  the  eve  of 
the  anniversary  of  the  birthday  of  Mahomet;  and  as  a 
token  of  respect  to  the  Turkish  government  we  hoisted 
our  colors  with  the  Turkish  flag  at  the  fore,  and  saluted 
with  twenty-one  guns.  At  nightfall,  the  fleet  and  mina 
rets  were  illuminated.  At  6:30,  the  fleet  and  batteries 
fired  another  salute.  At  8:00,  sent  off  three  rockets  and 
burned  blue  lights  at  the  yardarm." 

Having  thus  performed  the  social  and  official  duties 
which  devolved  upon  him,  as  a  representative  of  the 
American  government,  Flag-Officer  Lavalette  the  next 
day  set  sail  for  the  harbor  of  Beyrout,  where  the  vessel 
remained  for  several  days.  During  the  stay  in  this  port, 
midshipman  George  Dewey  records  that  "at  11  A.  M.  a 
summary  court-martial  convened  for  the  trial  of  Thomas 
Carey.  At  3  P.  M.,  called  all  hands  to  witness  punish 
ment,  and  read  sentence,  which  was  'solitary  confinement 
in  double  irons  on  diminished  rations  for  thirty  days,  and 
to  be  deprived  of  three  months'  pay.'  The  execution  of 
the  sentence  was  immediately  commenced." 

We  next  find  the  future  Admiral  at  anchor  in  the  bay 
of  Jaffa,  where  the  vessel  was  visited  officially  by  the 
governor  and  civil  authorities  of  that  ancient  and  his 
toric  city.  It  was  while  at  this  port  that  George  Dewey 
sent  home  to  his  aged  grandsire  an  olive-wood  cane  cut 
by  him.  This  the  old  gentleman  prized  and  carried  to  the 


148  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  a  few  years  later,  in 
Vermont.  Writing  at  the  harbor  of  Alexandria,  November 
13,  1858,  Dewey's  log  contains  the  record  that  "at  7:30, 
sent  a  boat  on  board  an  Austrian  bark  lying  too  near  us, 
to  change  her  berth,  and  while  heaving  in,  the  wind  hauled 
fore  a  few  points  and  swung  her  afoul  of  us,  slightly  dam 
aging  our  starboard  quarter.  Moored  ship  with  twenty 
fathoms  on  port,  and  twenty-five  fathoms  on  starboard 
cable.  At  9:00,  hoisted  out  the  second  cutter  and  second 
launch.  At  10:00  sent  boats  to  the  assistance  of  the  Aus 
trian  vessel  lying  under  our  stern,  slipped  her  chain,  and 
warped  her  to  another  part  of  the  harbor.  At  2  P.  M.,  sent 
to  the  Austrian  ship  her  anchor  and  chain,  in  charge  of  the 
boatswain,  with  the  second  launch  and  extra  men,  with  in 
structions  to  report  all  the  damage  that  she  had  sustained 
in  her  rigging  by  collision  with  this  ship.  Sent  carpen 
ter  on  board  to  examine  what  injury  she  had  sustained 
in  his  department.  He  returned  reporting  a  trifling  in 
jury  in  her  bowsprit  cap."  Two  days  later,  this  incident 
is  closed  with  the  statement  that  the  Wabash  "sent  on 
board  the  Austrian  bark  stores  from  the  boatswain's  and 
sailmaker's  departments  to  make  good  the  damage  done 
her  when  in  contact  with  us  on  the  morning  of  the  13th 
instant."  On  the  same  day  it  is  reported  that  "the 
Twenty- Eighth  Regiment  of  English  troops  disembarked 
from  the  troop  ship  Perseverance,  and  cheered  our  ship  as 
they  passed." 

From  Alexandria  the  Wabash  sailed  for  the  harbor  of 
Valetta.  Here  Dewey  had  an  opportunity  of  participa 
ting  in  a  salutation  to  the  Vice-Admiral  of  the  British 


IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN 


151 


navy,   an    honor   which    to   him    doubtless,    at   that    time, 
was  deemed  a  special  privilege,  but  which  was  as   noth- 


VALETTA,   MALTA  — QUARANTINE  HARBOR 


ing    compared    with    the    honors    which    would    be     ac 
corded    to    himself    were    he    now    to    visit    the    English 


152  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

ports  or  come  in  contact  with  British  navy  officers  any 
where  else. 

Leaving  Valetta,  the  Wabash  headed  once  again  for 
Genoa,  stopping  at  Spezia  and  reaching  Genoa,  December 
10,  1858.  That  day  is  long  to  be  remembered  by  our 
gallant  young  midshipman.  On  the  first  of  these  days, 
the  Russian  consul-general  came  on  board  the  Wabash  and 
announced  that  the  Grand  Duke  Constantine  of  Russia 
intended  visiting  that  ship.  "At  4:15  P.  M.,  a  Russian 
squadron  entered  the  harbor,  the  flagship  flying  an 
admiral's  ensign  at  the  main.  The  customary  exchange 
of  salutations  took  place,  and  Dewey  and  his  associates 
made  ready  to  receive  his  Royal  Highness  on  the  follow 
ing  day.  A  careful  inspection  of  crew  at  quarters,  with 
attention  to  every  detail  of  that  preparation,  is  minutely 
recorded  in  the  journal  of  that  date.  The  Grand  Duke 
was  received  with  military  honors  at  high  noon,  while 
the  mast  of  the  Wabash  displayed  the  Russian  flag  at  the 
fore.  After  the  withdrawal  of  their  distinguished  guests, 
the  crew  of  the  American  frigate  hauled  down  the 
Russian  flag  and  saluted  the  Grand  Duke's  squadron  as 
his  vessels  got  under  way  and  stood  out  of  the  harbor." 

And  thus  was  ended  the  first  six  months  of  George 
Dewey's  experience  as  a  graduated  midshipman  in  the 
United  States  Navy. 

The  first  two  weeks  of  the  new  year,  1859,  found 
the  Wabash  with  her  precious  crew  of  patriotic  hu 
manity  still  within  the  harbor  of  Genoa.  Nothing 
unusual  seems  to  have  occurred  until  January  27,  when 
two  French  steam  line-of-battle  ships  and  a  frigate  came 


M 


ARCO   Dl    RICCARDO,   TRIESTE 


IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN 


155 


into  the  harbor  and  anchored   near  the   American   vessel. 
An   exchange    of   international    courtesies    is   recorded    as 


A  STREET  IN  AMALFI,  NEAR  NAPLES 


having  taken  place,  and  the  admiral  of  the  French  navy 
made  an  official  visit  to  Flag-Officer  Lavalette.  Three 
days  later,  the  American  vessel  fired  a  salute  of  twenty- 


156  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

one  guns  in  honor  of  the  marriage  of  Prince  Napoleon  of 
France  to  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Sardinia.  The 
day  following,  Victor  Emmanuel,  King  of  Sardinia,  visited 
the  French  flagship,  and  was  saluted  by  all  the  French 
and  Sardinian  vessels  in  the  harbor,  as  well  as  by  the 
WabasJi.  On  the  evening  of  the  day  following,  still 
another  salute  of  twenty-one  guns  was  given  by  the 
Wabash,  with  the  French  flag  to  the  fore,  and  the  Sar 
dinian  flag  at  the  main.  This  salute  was  in  honor  of 
Prince  Napoleon  and  his  suite,  who  on  board  the  royal 
French  yacht,  Eeine  Hortense,  sailed  out  of  the  harbor, 
accompanied  by  the  entire  French  squadron. 

The  older  residents  of  the  United  States  are  reminded 
by  an  entry  in  George  Dewey's  log  book,  while  at  Genoa, 
February  6,  1859,  of  the  death  of  Brevet  Brigadier- 
General  Henderson,  who  died  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  January 
6,  of  the  same  year.  On  February  7  a  salute  of  thirteen 
guns  was  fired,  with  the  flag  at  half  mast,  in  honor  of  the 
memory  of  that  distinguished  officer  of  the  marine  corps. 

Washington's  birthday  was  duly  celebrated  by  a  dis 
play  of  flags  and  a  salute  of  twenty-one  guns.  A  Sardin 
ian  man-of-war  anchored  near  by  joined  the  Americans 
in  the  ceremony,  and  thus  did  the  friendship  already 
sprung  up  between  the  United  States  and  the  govern 
ment  of  Sardinia .  become  materially  strengthened.  This 
celebration  took  place  in  the  harbor  of  Spezia,  where 
the  Wabash  seems  to  have  remained  at  anchor  until  the 
5th  of  the  following  month. 

The  next  port  at  which  the  Wabash  cast  her  anchor 
appears  to  have  been  Leghorn,  where  Flag-Officer  Lava- 


(159) 


160  LIFE   OF  ADMIEAL  DEWEY 

lette  and  his  staff  were  received  with  honors  by  the 
officers  of  the  port,  and  in  return  the  American  vessel 
fired  the  customary  salute  of  thirteen  guns,  with  the  Tus 
can  flag  at  the  fore. 

On  March  31  George  Dewey  received  a  reminder  of 
the  first  visit  to  America  by  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  who 
brought  with  them  Thomas  Dewey,  the  settler.  This  was 
by  the  arrival  of  the  American  ship  Mayflower  from 
Trieste.  The  newcomer  was  boarded  by  an  officer  from 
the  W abash  before  she  had  applied  for  and  received  pra 
tique.  This  made  trouble  at  once,  and  the  health  officer 
of  the  port  placed  the  ship  in  quarantine  for  having  thus 
communicated.  This  was  straightened  out,  however,  by 
the  officers  of  the  Wabash,  who  sent  a  boat  on  shore  to 
obtain  the  necessary  papers.  Two  days  later,  while  try 
ing  to  get  under  way,  the  Wabash  ran  aground,  and  did 
not  succeed  in  getting  free  until  the  following  morning, 
being  assisted  in  a  very  gracious  manner  by  a  British 
merchant  steamer,  the  captain  of  which  saw  their  predic 
ament  and  came  to  their  relief. 

May  1,  1859,  was  not  unlike  other  days  on  board  the 
Wabash,  in  the  bay  of  Naples ;  the  only  unusual  inci 
dent  recorded  in  Dewey's  log  book  being  an  official  visit 
from  the  admiral  of  the  Neapolitan  navy.  This  day  was 
in  striking  contrast  to  that  other  May  1,  when  George 
Dewey,  as  commodore  of  the  American  squadron  on  the 
Asiatic  station,  quietly  entered  another  bay  and  destroyed 
the  fleet  of  a  hostile  nation.  The  casualties  were  the 
same  on  both  of  the  dates  mentioned.  The  log  book  of 
the  Olympia  for  that  last  May  day  would  be  interesting 


IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN  163 

reading  now  when  compared  with  that  other  record 
made  by  Midshipman  George  Dewey  while  in  the  Medi 
terranean.  A  pleasant  interchange  of  courtesies  took 
pla'ce  on  May  19,  between  the  Wabash  and  the  British 
man-of-war  Centurian;  this  time,  however,  no  powder  was 
burned,  the  salutation  being  one  of  music  of  an  entirely 
different  nature.  As  the  American  vessel  passed  out  of  the 
harbor,  the  red-coated  band  of  the  followers  of  the  Union 
Jack  struck  up  "  Hail,  Columbia,  Happy  Land ! "  which 
was  returned  by  the  band  on  board  the  Wabash  playing 
"God  Save  the  Queen." 

While  off  Civita  Vecchia,  May  23,  the  Wabash  was 
honored  by  a  visit  from  United  States  Minister  Stock 
ton,  who  represented  this  country  at  Rome  during  that 
period.  The  United  States  consul  at  Rome  was  also  an 
honored  guest  at  the  same  time.  These  visits  were 
deemed  worthy  of  record  in  the  ship's  log  by  Midship 
man  Dewey.  Two  days  later,  all  the  Neapolitan  vessels 
in  the  harbor  are  recorded  as  having  half-masted  their 
flags,  and  with  yards  "  a-cockbill "  fired  half-hour  guns 
throughout  the  day  in  honor  of  the  memory  of  the  late 
King  of  Naples.  The  Wabash  followed  suit  except  as  to 
firing  the  guns,  and  half-masted  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
together  with  the  Neapolitan  flag  at  the  mainmast. 

On  June  2,  the  Wabash  was  honored  with  a  visit 
from  the  Prince  of  Syracuse,  who  was  formally  saluted 
by  the  firing  of  guns,  as  also  were  the  Spanish  minis 
ter  and  the  ministers  of  Prussia  and  Sardinia.  This 
salutation  to  the  Spanish  ambassador  was  music  in  his 
ears,  differing  very  materially  from  that  other  salutation 


164  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

given  by  George  Dewey  and  his  gallant  crews  in  the 
harbor  of  Cavite. 

The  eighty-third  anniversary  of  the  Independence  of 
the  United  States  was  celebrated  on  board  the  Wabash 
at  sea,  with  a  salute  of  twenty-one  guns  and  a  display 
of  the  emblem  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  at  the 
masthead.  The  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read 
by  one  of  the  ship's  officers,  and  in  every  way  possible 
the  young  midshipmen  and  crew  were  made  to  under 
stand  the  meaning  of  the  celebration. 

When  off  Leghorn,  on  August  15,  the  Wabash  is 
reported  as  having  joined  a  French  steamer  in  firing  a 
salute  of  twenty-one  guns  in  honor  of  the  fete  of  Na 
poleon  I.  Here,  also,  the  ship  was  visited  by  an  officer 
of  the  Swedish  government,  who  was  received  with  the 
honors  due  his  rank  and  station,  the  Swedish  flag  being 
hoisted  to  the  foremast. 

There  has  been  no  exposure  of  frauds  in  feeding  the 
sailors  in  the  Navy  daring  the  wfar  with  Spain,  and  it 
is  generally  supposed  that  the  Navy  has  always  been 
free  from  such  abuses.  But,  nevertheless,  it  was  not 
always  thus  —  at  least  it  has  sometimes  been  found 
necessary  to  condemn  and  throw  away  large  quantities 
of  provisions  intended  for  the  use  of  the  men  in  that 
arm  of  the  government  service.  George  Dewey,  midship 
man,  recorded  in  his  journal  under  date  of  August  23, 
1859,  the  fact  that  "five  hundred  and  fifty  gallons  of 
beans  were  surveyed,  condemned,  and  thrown  overboard." 
One  thing  seems  certain:  The  boys  were  not  then  com 
pelled  to  eat  the  food  found  unfitted  for  their  use. 


" 


IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN  167 

The  example  thus  set  for  the  young  midshipman  evi 
dently  had  its  influence  upon  his  conduct  in  that  par 
ticular  regard  ever  since ;  for  true  it  is  that  he  has 
never  been  charged  with  supplying  his  men  with  any 
thing  in  the  way  of  food  which  he  did  not  consider 
fit  for  his  own  table.  The  condemnation  of  food  referred 
to  took  place  in  the  harbor  of  Spezia. 

September  18  was  also  a  day  to  be  remembered.  A 
large  number  of  men  from  the  American  frigate  had 
evidently  been  on  shore  the  night  before,  which  was 
Saturday,  and  had  been  present,  either  as  spectators  or 
participants,  at  a  street  fracas  of  some  sort,  in  which  a 
man  named  Collins  had  been  killed.  Sunday  morning, 
"in  obedience  to  an  order  from  the  Flag-Officer,  Captain 
Barron  directed  that  George  C.  Rogers,  and  such  other 
persons  as  were  on  shore  on  the  evening  of  the  fracas  in 
the  streets  of  Genoa  which  led  to  the  death  of  the  man 
by  the  name  of  Collins,  be  sent  on  shore  to  the  usual 
landing  by  9:30  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  instant,  for 
the  purpose  of  identifying  the  man  or  men  who  were  en 
gaged  as  principals  in  the  aforesaid  outrage.  Sent  three 
seamen,  one  landsman,  one  private  marine,  five  first-class 
firemen,  nine  second-class  firemen,  and  fourteen  coal  heav 
ers  (Rogers  himself  included),  in  charge  of  Engineers 
Fletcher  and  English.  At  1  P.  M.  all  the  men  sent  on 
shore  returned  excepting  George  C.  Rogers  (first-class  fire 
man),  who  was  detained  by  the  judicial  authorities,  hav 
ing  been  identified  as  one  of  the  men  engaged  in  the 
aforesaid  outrage."  George  Dewey,  midshipman,  was  here 
taught  another  of  the  lessons  wThich  have  made  him 


168  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY       . 

respected  in  all  the  years  of  his  life  since  passed.  He  will 
stand  by  one  of  his  men  to  the  last  if  he  believes  him  to 
be  in  the  right.  But  if  a  man  violates  the  law  of  the 
land  and  deserves  punishment  for  the  protection  of  so 
ciety,  the  American  Admiral  is  not  the  man  to  stand  in 
the  way  of  the  administration  of  justice. 

November  13  was  the  next  date  of  this  eventful 
year  to  the  young  midshipman  whicn  must  have  be 
come  memorable  to  him.  It  was  the  date  on  which 
the  Wabash  bade  good-bye  to  foreign  shores  and  started 
for  home  once  more,  after  an  absence  of  more  than 
eighteen  months.  The  voyage  was  an  uneventful  one, 
the  regular  routine  of  inspection  and  drills  being  the 
only  record  in  addition  to  the  state  of  weather,  barom 
eter,  thermometer,  soundings,  etc.  On  the  thirtieth  of 
the  same  month  Dewey's  journal  or  log  book  was  in 
spected  or  examined  by  the  captain  of  the  frigate,  who 
simply  indorsed  it  as  " examined,"  and  signed  the  name 
of  "S.  Barron,  Captain  United  States  Navy."  This  was 
evidently  equivalent  to  an  approval  of  the  manner  in 
which  the  record  had  been  kept.  The  journey  home 
consumed  thirty-three  days  of  time,  as  it  was  on  the 
morning  of  December  16,  at  5:30,  that  the  Wabash 
made  the  Highland  lights,  and  fired  a  gun  for  signal 
that  a  pilot  was  wanted  to  bring  her  up  to  the  battery, 
from  where  she  was  moved  later  in  the  day  to  the 
navy  yard  dock  in  Brooklyn.  After  a  most  rigid  in 
spection  of  the  boat  and  crew  by  the  proper  officials 
of  the  Navy,  on  December  20,  1859,  "the  crew  were  per 
mitted  to  leave  the  ship,  and  the  officers  were  detached." 


«j  \  n\S  'M  * 

mrn^^w 


(109) 


170  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

And  thus  ends  the  record  of  the  first  sea  voyage  of 
the  man  who  was  apparently  destined  even  then  to 
outrank  all  his  predecessors  in  naval  achievements,  and 
win  a  place  only  second  to  that  of  the  revered  Wash 
ington  and  the  immortal  Lincoln  in  the  hearts  of  the 
American  people. 


at  Key  THest. 


£uuteiia.ut  peiue^  uiitU  farragut  at  Tleou  ®tlean£. 

CHAPTER   VII 
DEWEY  IN  THE  CIVIL   WAR 

THE  "MISSISSIPPI"  AT  PORT  HUDSON  — MARRIAGE  TO  SUSIE 
GOODWIN  — CAREER  IN  TIME  OF  PEACE  — PREPARATIONS 
FOR  THE  BATTLE  OF  MANILA 

[N  1860  George  Dewey  was  ordered 
back  to  Annapolis  for  examina 
tion  for  a  commission,  and  suc 
ceeded  so  well  as  to  advance  him 
in  class  standing  over  two  of  his 
fellows,  giving  him  a  final  rating 
of  number  three.  On  April  19, 
1861,  he  was  commissioned  a  lieu 
tenant,  and  from  1861  to  1863 
served  on  the  steam  sloop  Mis 
sissippi  of  the  West  Gulf  squad 
ron.  He  took  part  in  the  capture  of  New  Orleans  in 
1862,  and  also  of  Port  Royal  in  1863. 

The  most  important  recorded   act  of  the   present  Ad 
miral    during    the   Civil   War   occurred   while    he    was    a 

(171) 


P  extraction  o£  the 


172 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


GEORGE  DEWEY  AT  THE  AGE  OF  24 
From  a  very  rare  photograph 


lieutenant  on  the  steam  sloop 
Mississippi  under  Admiral  Far- 
ragut,  and  of  which  Melancthon 
Smith  was  captain.  It  was  in 
March  1863  that  the  Mississippi 
attempted  to  run  by  the  Con 
federate  batteries  at  Port  Hud 
son.  Some  of  the  ships  got  as 
far  as  the  narrow  part  of  the 
channel,  where  they  met  the 
land  batteries  almost  muzzle  to 
muzzle,  and  then  they  were 
forced  to  retreat.  The  Mississippi  did  not  get  so  far  as 
that.  A  foggy  day  had  been  chosen  for  the  attempt,  and 
amid  the  fog  and  smoke  of  battle,  which  redoubled  the 
obscurity,  the  Mississippi  lost  her  bearings  and  ran  aground. 
Her  officers  found  that  she  had  struck  just  under  the 
guns  of  a  battery  in  the  middle  of  the  line  of  fortifica 
tions,  and  one  of  the  strongest  of  the  line.  In  half  an 
hour  she  was  struck  by  two  hundred  and  fifty  shot,  and 
was  riddled  like  a  sieve.  There  was  no  chance  of  hold 
ing  her,  so  her  crew  were  ordered  to  take  to  the  water 
and  save  themselves  if  possible. 

Captain  Smith  and  Lieutenant  Dewey  themselves  re 
mained  till  the  very  last,  and  personally  fired  the  boat 
in  several  places,  and  spiked  her  guns.  The  guns  of  the 
Mississippi  fired  two  hundred  and  fifty-five  shots  in  the  short 
space  of  thirty-five  minutes  before  the  ship  was  abandoned. 
On  this  occasion  George  Dewey  is  said  to  have  per 
formed  an  act  of  heroism  which  attracted  the  attention 


GEORGE   DEWEY   LEAVING  THE  BURNING       MISSISSIPPI 


DEWEY   IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR  175 

of  the  admiral  of  the  Navy.  As  told  by  one  of  his  com 
rades  at  the  time,  we  give  it  here :  "  Lieutenant  Dewey 
could  have  escaped  easily,  as  he  was  a  bold,  powerful 
swimmer;  but  he  was  too  unselfish  to  think  only  of  him 
self  so  long  as  any  of  his  comrades  were  in  danger.  Not 
far  from  him  he  spied  a  seaman  who  was  trying  his  best 
to  keep  above  water  after  his  right  arm  had  been  para 
lyzed  by  a  bullet.  Dewey  struck  right  out  for  him  and 
gave  him  a  lift,  till  they  reached  a  floating  spar.  Then 
the  wounded  man  was  towed  ashore  in  safety.  There 
were  picked  shots  among  the  'Johnnies'  on  the  bank,  and 
they  did  deadly  work.  So  whether  they  spared  young 
Dewey  and  his  wounded  shipmate  because  of  the  act  of 
mercy  he  was  doing,  or  whether  the  floating  spar  con 
cealed  them  somewhat,  we  never  knew.  At  any  rate, 
there  were  so  few  who  escaped  when  they  swam  for  the 
shore  that  the  old  fellows  in  the  service  said  right  away, 
when  they  heard  the  story:  'Well,  I'll  be  durned  if  that 
young  Dewey  ain't  being  kept  alive  for  something  better 
than  trying  to  sneak  by  old  Confederate  forts.  He'll  live 
to  show  the  stuff  that's  in  him  some  day,  if  I  know  what 
I'm  saying.'  But  we  never  thought  he  would  ever  get 
such  a  high-sounding  title  as  the  'Hero  of  Manila';  but 
I  am  quite  sure  he  deserves  it,  for  thrashing  those  ras 
cally  Spaniards." 

So  many  versions  of  this  incident  in  the  life  of  George 
Dewey  have  been  published,  some  of  them  apparently 
from  reliable  sources,  we  here  give  the  story  as  sent  by 
Lieutenant  Dewey  to  his  father  at  Montpelier.  The  story 


176  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

was  not  written  by  the   lieutenant  himself,  but  was  sent 
with  his  full  approval  of  its  contents. 

The  Mississippi,  in  obedience  to  the  order  of  Admiral  Farragut, 
brought  up  the  rear.  She  had  reached  the  point  directly  opposite 
the  town,  and  her  officers  were  congratulating  themselves  upon  hav 
ing  passed  through  the  greater  danger,  the  ship  up  to  this  time  not 
having  sustained  a  single  casualty.  The  Monongahela  not  being  in 
sight,  orders  were  given  to  increase  the  speed  in  order  to  close  up 
the  space  between  the  ships.  The  atmosphere  being  humid,  the 
smoke  hanging  close  to  the  surface  of  the  river,  nothing  being  dis 
cernible  but  the  flames  of  our  own  and  the  enemy's  pieces,  the  ship, 
which  had  acquired  rapid  headway,  grounded  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  river,  directly  opposite  the  terminus  of  the  Port  Hudson  and  Clin 
ton  Railroad. 

Her  engines  were  immediately  reversed,  and  orders  were  given 
by  Captain  Smith  for  the  men  to  fire  with  all  possible  rapidity,  as 
their  safety  depended  upon  keeping  the  enemy  from  their  guns. 
The  men  responded  with  alacrity,  and,  in  the  short  space  of  thirty- 
five  minutes,  they  fired  two  hundred  and  fifty  shots.  During  this 
time  Engineer  Rutherford  made  every  exertion  to  get  the  ship  afloat, 
but  without  success.  Captain  Smith  finding  it  impossible  to  save 
the  vessel  gave  orders  to  make  instant  preparations  to  destroy  the 
ship  and  save  the  crew.  Orders  were  also  given  to  the  chief  engineer 
to  destroy  the  engines,  and  cut  the  outward  connecting  pipes.  This 
being  done,  the  water  flowed  rapidly  into  the  ship.  The  sick  and 
wounded  were  conveyed  on  board  the  ironclad  ram  Essex,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  crew  were  conveyed  to  the  right  bank  of  the  river, 
which  had  been  cleared  by  the  gunboats  of  the  Confederate  sharp 
shooters.  Before  the  crew  left  the  ship,  every  preparation  was  made 
to  destroy  her  by  collecting  combustibles  in  the  forward  and  after 
parts  of  the  vessel.  Unfortunately,  she  was  fired  forward  before  the 
order  was  given.  This  becoming  known  to  the  crew,  and  there  being 
but  three  small  boats  which  they  could  use,  many  jumped  overboard, 
and  it  is  feared  were  drowned  in  attempting  to  escape.  Some  others, 
seven  in  all,  including  Marine-Captain  Fontene,  Assistant  Engineer 
Brown,  and  Master's  Mate  Francis,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 


GEORGE   DEWEY  SAVING  A  COMRADE'S   LIFE 


DEWEY  IN   THE   CIVIL  WAR  179 

Just  before  the  order  was  given  to  abandon  the  ship  a  shot  from 
the  enemy  entered  forward  of  the  wheel,  killing  Acting-Master  Kei- 
ley,  commanding  the  Second  Division,  also  killing  and  wounding  all 
but  four  men  at  one  of  his  guns. 

After  seeing  that  the  survivors  of  his  crew  were  fairly  clear  of 
the  ship,  and  every  preparation  made  to  insure  her  destruction,  Cap 
tain  Smith,  Lieutenant  Dewey,  Ensign  Bachelder,  and  Assistant  En 
gineer  Tower,  together  left  the  ship  and  abandoned  her  to  the  flames, 
after  having  with  their  own  hands  spiked  most  of  the  guns. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  coolness  which  Captain  Smith  displayed  on 
this  occasion,  it  is  related  that  in  the  midst  of  the  death  and  destruc 
tion  which  surrounded  him,  while  coolly  lighting  a  cigar  with  flint 
and  steel  he  remarked  to  Lieutenant  Dewey :  '  It  is  not  likely  that 
we  shall  escape,  and  we  must  make  every  preparation  to  insure  the 
destruction  of  the  ship.' 

As  soon  as  Captain  Caldwell  of  the  Essex  discovered  the  flames 
bursting  from  the  Mississippi,  notwithstanding  she  was  within  five 
hundred  yards  of  the  principal  Confederate  batteries,  he  steamed  up 
the  river  and  succeeded  in  taking  off  from  the  shore  many  of  the 
men  who  had  escaped,  and  in  saving  many  who  were  still  struggling 
with  the  current  for  their  lives. 

The  fire  having  full  possession  of  the  ship,  raged  through  her 
for  an  hour,  greatly  lightening  her,  while  the  water  flowing  aft  set 
tled  her  stern,  and  she  gradually  slid  off  into  the  current.  By  a 
seeming  act  of  Providence,  the  ship  was  swung  round  by  the  force 
of  the  current,  and  headed  down  the  stream.  The  guns  of  her  port 
battery,  which  had  not  been  fired,  becoming  heated,  the  venerable  old 
frigate  paid  a  parting  salute  to  the  Confederates  at  the  same  time 
she  fired  the  minute  guns  over  her  own  grave.  Had  the  ship  floated 
down  the  stream  stern  foremost,  it  is  impossible  to  conjecture  what  might 
have  been  the  result,  inasmuch  as  her  guns  would  have  been  dis 
charged  upon  her  own  crew  on  the  neighboring  bank.  She  floated 
down  the  stream,  her  guns  discharging,  and  shells  on  deck  exploding 
in  every  direction,  until  at  half-past  five  o'clock,  when,  having  reached  a 
point  near  which  the  Confederate  ram  Arkansas  was  destroyed,  she  blew 
up,  with  a  concussion  which  shook  the  country  for  miles  around. 
Fragments  of  the  ship  drifted  past  Baton  Rouge,  and  one  of  the 
wheel-houses  was  taken  ashore  at  that  point. 


180  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

It  is  estimated  that  only  sixty-five  officers  and  men  belonging 
to  the  Mississippi  were  killed,  wounded,  and  taken  prisoners.  The 
officers  and  crew  lost  everything  except  what  they  stood  in.  They 
saved  nothing,  and  left  nothing  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

After  the  destruction  of  the  Mississippi,  Dewey  was 
ordered  to  the  gunboat  Agawam  of  the  North  Atlantic 
squadron,  and  participated  in  two  attacks  on  Fort  Fisher 
in  1864  and  1865.  He  was  promoted  to  be  a  lieutenant- 
commander  March  3,  1865,  and  one  year  later  became 
executive  officer  of  the  famous  gunboat  Kearsarge,  which 
destroyed  the  Alabama.  He  also  served  on  the  frigate 
Colorado,  flagship  of  the  European  squadron.  On  return 
ing  to  the  United  States  in  1868,  he  was  detailed  for  duty 
at  Annapolis,  where  he  remained  two  years.  In  1870,  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Narragansett,  and  on 
April  13,  1872,  he  was  commissioned  as  commander. 

In  1867,  Dewey  was  stationed  for  a  time  at  the  Kittery 
Navy  Yard,  just  across  the  river  from  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 
He  was  a  handsome  and  popular  fellow,  and  a  welcome 
visitor  in  the  homes  of  those  old-fashioned  and  highly- 
cultivated  families  which  made  up  the  somewhat  exclu 
sive  society  of  the  place,  and  which  do  to-day,  not  only 
in  Portsmouth,  but  in  Newburyport  and  Salem,  and  all 
along  the  North  Shore,  as  it  is  called.  It  was  here  that 
he  first  met  the,  sweet-faced  little  woman  who  afterward 
became  his  wife.  She  was  Miss  Susie  B.  Goodwin,  a 
daughter  of  doughty  old  Ichabod  Goodwin,  the  War  Gov 
ernor  of  New  Hampshire,  and  known  far  and  wide  as 
"Fighting  Governor  Goodwin."  In  his  way,  Governor 
Goodwin  was  a  popular  hero  himself  in  the  early  days 


DEWEY  IN   THE   CIVIL  WAR 


183 


of  the  Civil  War,  quite  as  much 
as   is  his  distinguished  son-in- 
law    to-day.      Like    many    an 
other  war    governor    of    the 
North,   Ichabod   Goodwin   was 
an  old-school  Democrat  of  the 
Jackson  type.     Nullification  or 
secession   he  could  not  stand, 
and  when   President   Lincoln's 
first    call    for    volunteers 
came   and   found   the 
New  Hampshire  leg 
islature  not  in  ses 
sion,  the  loyal  old 
governor    put   his 


hands  deep  into 
his  pockets,  and, 
at   his    personal 
expense,  fitted  out  a 

regiment    Of    fight-      GEORGE  DEWEY 

IN  1867 

ing  men  and  sent 
them  to  the  front,  trusting 
to  the  honor  of  the  people  of 
New  Hampshire  to  reimburse 
him  at  the  proper  time. 
"Fighting  Governor  Good 
win"  was  known  far  and  wide 
in  those  days ;  village  streets 
were  named  in  his  honor, 
children  were  called  by  the 


LIEUTENANT  DEWEY 


184  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

name  of  "Ichabod"  and  "Goodwin,"  and  to  this  day  the 
old  Portland,  Saco,  and  Portsmouth  locomotive  "Gov 
ernor  Goodwin,"  more  than  thirty  years  old,  goes  puff 
ing  and  snorting  along  the  shore  road  which  connects 
Portsmouth  with  points  east  and  west. 

Lieutenant  Dewey  and  Susie  Goodwin  were  married 
October  24,  1867,  and  following  the  wedding  a  reception 
was  held  in  the  fine  old  Goodwin  homestead,  which  is  still 
standing  on  one  of  the  quiet,  elm-shaded  streets  of  Ports 
mouth,  and  occupied  by  members  of  the  Goodwin  family. 

Shortly  after  their  marriage  the  young  couple  were 
compelled  to  separate  for  a  time,  Lieutenant  Dewey  hav 
ing  been  ordered  to  sea.  For  two  years  he  was  on  the 
European  Station,  his  wife  remaining  at  Portsmouth. 
Returning  to  America  he  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Narragansett,  relieving  Commander  Rhind.  The 
one  great  sorrow  of  his  life  came  just  a  little  later. 
This  was  in  1872.  He  had  been  promoted  to  be  com 
mander,  and  luck  seemed  to  be  running  strongly  his 
way.  The  young  wife  was  spending  the  summer  at  New 
port,  and  preparations  were  being  made  for  an  event 
which  it  was  hoped  would  crown  with  joy  their  wedded 
life.  A  son  was  born  December  23,  but  one  week  later 
the  mother  died.  The  boy  was  christened  George  Good 
win,  in  honor  of  his  proud  grandfather. 

From  1872  to  1875  Commander  Dewey  served  on  the 
Pacific  Survey.  He  became  Lighthouse  Inspector  in  1876, 
and  was  Secretary  to  the  Lighthouse  Board  from  1877 
to  1882,  being  at  this  time  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  Juniata,  of  the  Asiatic  squadron. 


DEWEY   IN   THE  CIVIL  WAR 


187 


Much  has  been  said  in  the  public  press  about  an  ill 
ness  through  which  George  Dewey  passed  in  1883.  Most 
of  the  published  statements  have  been  untrue.  He 
was  taken  ill  while  on  his  way  to  join  the  Asiatic 
squadron,  and  was  sent  to  the  naval  hospital  at  Malta. 
In  a  letter  to  his  sister,  under  date  of  April  11,  1883, 


MOSQUE  OF  OMAR,  JERUSALEM 

after  speaking  of  the  press  reports  of  his  illness,  the 
Admiral  wrote:  — 

My  Dear  Sister  :  —  So    I   will    not    say    much    about    it 

myself  except  that  I  have  been  very,  very  ill,  and,  on  two  or  three 
occasions,  very  near  "  the  other  shore."  At  one  time  I  fully  ex 
pected  to  die,  and  nothing  but  an  excellent  constitution  and  God's 
mercy  brought  me  through.  .  .  „ 


188  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

The  climate  of  Malta  is  much  like  that  of  Florida,  and  we  are 
enjoying  oranges,  roses,  etc., — and  now  and  then  a  mosquito. 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

GEORGE  DEWEY. 

Two  years  later  he  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy, 
and  took  command  of  the  Dolphin,  and  afterwards  of 
the  Pensacola,  flagship  of  the  European  squadron.  While 
in  command  of  the  Pensacola,  Dewey  made  his  second 
cruise  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  while  there  wrote  the 
following  letter  to  his  sister  at  Montpelier:  — 

June  1,  1886,  U.  S.  STEAMSHIP  PENSACOLA,  ) 
SMYRNA,  TURKEY.  J 

Dear  Sister:—  ...  I  am  sure  you  will  be  glad  to  know 
my  health  is  quite  restored  again. 

We  are  making  a  very  delightful  cruise  in  this  part  of  the 
world,  in  being  able  to  visit  so  many  interesting  places.  I  spent 
several  days  in  Cairo,  Jerusalem,  Beyrout,  etc.,  and  to-morrow  I  am 
going  to  visit  the  ruins  of  Ephesus,  where  stand  the  remains  of  the 
Temple  of  Diana,  one  of  the  Seven  Wonders  of  the  World.  When 
I  have  seen  it,  I  will  have  seen  four  of  the  seven. 

From  here  we  go  to  Athens,  and  will  visit  some  of  the  Greek 
islands  en  route.  .  .  . 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

GEORGE  DEWEY. 

In  1888  Captain  Dewey  was  detailed  as  Chief  of  the 
Bureau  of  Equipment  and  Recruiting,  with  the  rank  of 
commodore.  His  commission  as  a  commodore,  however, 
was  not  issued  to  him  until  February  28,  1896.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Lighthouse  Board  again  from  1893 
to  1895,  being  transferred  to  Board  of  Inspection  and 
Survey  immediately  thereafter,  and  in  1896  and  1897  he 


GEORGE  DEWEY  AT  THE  AGE  OF  46 


DEWEY  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


191 


TEMPLE  OF  DIANA  AT  EPHESUS 


was    president    of    this    latter    important    department    of 
the  naval  service. 

During   the   summer   of   1897  George   Dewey's   health, 
which  was   not  of  the  best  while   on  shore   duty,  began 


ATHENS   FROM   THE   EAST 


192 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


to  fail  him,  and,  as  he  was  fast  approaching  the  age 
limit  for  the  active  service  of  the  Navy,  he  was  urged 
by  his  friends  to  take  another  cruise  for  the  benefit  of 
his  health.  There  are  many  interesting  tales  told  re 
garding  his  assignment  to  the  command  of  the  squadron 
then  in  Asiatic  waters.  One  of  them  is  to  the  effect 
that  his  assignment  was  strenuously  opposed  by  some  of 


HARBOR  OF  NAGASAKI,  JAPAN 

those  high  in  authority,  and  that  it  was  only  when  his 
friend  of  a  lifetime,  the  Honorable  Senator  Eedfield 
Proctor,  called  on  President  McKinley  and  made  a  per 
sonal  request  that  Dewey  be  thus  assigned,  that  the 
orders  were  issued  which  eventually  brought  fame  to 
the  hero  of  Manila  Bay  and  success  to  the  American 
Navy  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  naval  warfare.  The 


DEWEY  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR  198 

assignment  to  the  command  of  the  Asiatic  squadron  was 
issued  from  the  Navy  Department  at  Washington,  Novem 
ber  30,  1897,  and  one  month  later  the  coming  Admiral 
raised  his  pennant  over  the  flagship  Olympia,  at  Nagas 
aki,  Japan. 

Naval  officers  in  foreign  ports  are  always  well  re 
ceived,  and  the  reception  accorded  George  Dewey  at 
Yokohama  was  no  exception  to  the  rule.  On  February 
4,  1898,  he  was  accorded  a  private  audience  with  the 
Emperor  and  Empress  of  Japan,  and  before  leaving  for 
Hong-Kong  he  himself  entertained  a  party  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen  at  luncheon  on  board  the  flagship  Olympia, 
which  he  so  pleasingly  describes  in  the  following  letter 
to  his  sister:  — 

FLAGSHIP  OLYMPIA, 
YOKOHAMA,  JAPAN,  January  30,  1898. 

My  Dear  Sister:  —  I  was  very  glad  to  receive  your  letter  written 
on  my  birthday,  with  its  interesting  batch  of  home  news.  How  much 
the  family  (ours)  has  to  be  grateful  for.  Of  course,  we  have  had  our 
sorrow,  some  more  than  others,  but,  as  a  whole,  we  have  much  to 
thank  God  for. 

I  arrived  here  in  Yokohama  on  Christmas  day,  and  at  Nagasaki  a 
week  later,  where  I  relieved  Admiral  McNair.  After  spending  a  fort 
night  there,  I  came  up  here  to  meet  the  Concord,  get  stores,  ammu 
nition,  etc.,  and  to  have  an  audience  with  the  Emperor  and  Empress 
of  Japan,  at  Tokio.  On  account  of  the  illness  of  the  latter,  the  au 
dience  has  been  delayed  somewhat,  but  at  last  a  date  is  fixed  and  I 
am  to  be  presented  on  the  fourth  of  next  month.  After  that  I  shall 
go  to  Hong- Kong  to  meet  the  Raleigh  and  Petrel  of  my  squadron. 

This  is  a  most  interesting  country  —  certainly  different  from  any  I 
have  seen.  Hearn's  book  will  give  you  an  excellent  idea  of  the  coun 
try  and  people. 

England,  Russia,  and  Germany  have  largely  increased  their  naval 
forces  in  the  Orient,  and  even  the  United  States  is  doing  something  in 

D— 13 


194 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


that  direction.  I  now  have 
five  vessels,  with  two,  and 
possibly  three,  more  on 
their  way.  Our  ships  are 
all,  with  the  exception  of 
the  flagship,  in  the  Chinese 
or  Corean  waters,  looking 
out  for  a  right  to  protect 
American  interests,  of 
which  there  are  many 
more  than  is  generally 
known.  What  we  all 
want  is  Chinese  trade, 
and  we  are  gradually 
getting  more  and  more  of 
it,  all  of  which  we  would 
lose  were  it  not  well 
known  that  we  are  ready 
and  will  protect  it.  I 
met  the  Russian  and  Eng 
lish  admirals  at  Nagasaki, 
and  found  them  most 
agreeable  and  able  men. 
The  former  has  no  less 
than  twenty,  and  the 
latter  thirty,  vessels  of  war  under  their  command. 

Yesterday  I  had  ten  ladies  and  gentlemen  at  "tiffin,"  as  they  call 
a  luncheon  in  the  East.  I  wish  you  could  have  seen  my  Chinese 
servants  —  of  whom  I  have  four  —  in  their  long  blue  robes,  looking 
like  Buddhist  priests.  Then,  too,  the  band  gave  us  music.  I  inclose 
the  program  printed  on  board,  and  altogether  it  was  a  grand  success. 
The  guests  arrived  at  one,  and  left  at  four  o'clock.  .  .  .  With 
love  to  all,* 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

GEORGE  DEWEY. 


A  BUDDHIST  PRIEST 


*  For  a  facsimile  reproduction  of  this  letter  see  pp.  414 


DEWEY  IN   THE   CIVIL  WAR  195 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  program  referred  to  :  — 

UNITED    STATES    FLAGSHIP   OI,YMPIA 

ASIATIC  STATION 

Yokohama,  Japan  January  29,  1898 

Orchestra 
Program 


March 

Overture . . . 
Cavatiiia . . . 

Waltz 

Selection. . . 
Romance. . 
Habanera. . 
Polka. . . 


Savasta 

.  ..Hermann 
. .  .  Donizetti 

Bennet 

. .  ..Czibulka 

Satta 

Yradier 

..Waldteufel 


"  Suwanee  River  " 

"I/a  Souveraine  " 

. . . . "  Ugo  Conte  di  Parigi  " . . . . 
"Remembrance  of  Naples".. 

"  Amorita  " 

"  Quanto  io  t'amo  " 

"  L,a   Paloma" 

"  Ma  Voisine  " 

"Star-Spangled  Banner" 
M.  VALIFUOCO,  BANDMASTER 


After  his  reception  by  the  Emperor  and  Empress 
of  Japan,  Commodore  Dewey  proceeded  to  Hong-Kong, 
China,  where  he  concentrated  his  fleet  and  awaited  de 
velopments.  And  here  he  was  found  when  the  wanton 
destruction  of  the  battleship  Maine  in  the  harbor  of 
Havana  stirred  the  hearts  of  the  great  American  peo 
ple,  and  aroused  within  them  a  hostile  and  vindictive 
answer.  All  the  efforts  of  Spain  and  her  American 
allies,  in  Congress  and  out,  could  not  remove  from  the 
American  mind  the  belief  that  the  great  sacrifice  of 
human  life  in  the  harbor  of  Havana  was  a  premedi 
tated  and  murderous  crime,  committed  with  the  full 
approval  of  some  of  the  authorities,  at  least,  represent 
ing  the  Kingdom  of  Spain,  and  when  the  President 
sent  to  George  Dewey  the  order  to  proceed  at  once  to 
capture  or  destroy  the  Spanish  fleet  in  Asiatic  waters 
he  little  anticipated  how  thoroughly  and  well  that  order 


196 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


would  be  obeyed.  Carrying  out  his  instructions  to  the 
letter  was  one  of  George  Dewey's  characteristics,  and 
the  measure  of  discipline  to  which  he  had  ever  yielded 
a  ready  acquiescence  himself  he  was  just  as  certain  to 
exact  from  others  round  him.  But  while  he  was  firm 
and  exacting  as  a  commander  no  one  ever  accused  him 


LANDING  PLACE  AT  MALTA 


of  unfairness  or  injustice.  And  when  the  shadows  of 
war  began  to  hover  over  the  American  and  Spanish 
nations,  Commodore  Dewey  began  making  preparations 
for  the  struggle  which,  with  his  keen  sense  of  diplomacy 
and  perception,  he  could  see  was  well-nigh  inevitable. 
His  ships  were  made  ready  for  the  fray,  and  when  the 


DEWEY  IN   THE  CIVIL  WAR 


197 


vessels  of  his  victorious  fleet  entered  the  bay  of  Manila 
on  that  eventful  night  of  April  30,  it  was  after  more 
than  one  month  of  careful  preparation.  In  a  letter  to 
his  dear  sister  at  Montpelier,  written  just  before  he 
sailed  on  his  still  hunt  for  the  fleet  of  Spain,  he  said: 
"We  are  still  waiting  for  the  declaration  of  war  to 
begin  our  work  out  here.  I  have  seven  men-of-war  all 


CONSTANTINOPLE  AND  THE  BOSPHORUS,  TURKEY 

ready  for  action,  and  should  war  be  the  word  I  believe 
we  will  make  short  work  of  the  Spanish  reign  in  the 
Philippines.  The  insurgents  are  ready  to  rise  at  our 
first  gun,  and  long  before  this  reaches  you  we  may  be 
masters  of  Manila  and  Philippine  cities.  But,  after  all, 
war  is  a  terrible  thing,  and  I  hope  some  way  out  of 


198  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

the  dilemma  may  be  found  without  resorting  to  the 
very  last  course.  .  .  .  My  health  continues  good,  al 
though  it  is  taxed  to  the  utmost,  and  my  one  prayer 
is  that  I  may  hold  out  until  we  have  finished  our 
work."  Another  sentence  in  the  same  letter  is  worthy 
of  reproduction  here :  "  I  believe  I  am  not  over-confident 
in  saying  that,  with  the  force  under  my  command,  I 
could  enter  the  bay  of  Manila,  capture  or  destroy  the 
Spanish  squadron,  and  reduce  the  defenses,  in  one  day." 
After  receiving  his  orders  from  the  President  to  pro 
ceed,  he  wrote:  "I  am  thankful  we  have  now  received 
our  orders.  We  have  got  them  [the  Spanish  fleet]  where 
we  want  them,  and  we  will  now  fix  them."  And  fix 
them  he  did  in  earnest  —  how  well,  the  story  of  the 
Battle  of  Manila,  elsewhere  told  with  more  of  detail, 
only  too  vividly  portrays.  His  prophesied  limit  of  time 
to  one  day  he  reduced  to  an  actual  time  of  less  than 
four  hours  of  fighting,  and  within  twelve  hours  from 
the  time  the  first  vessel  of  his  fleet  passed  the  bat 
teries  at  the  entrance  to  Manila  Bay  he  had  literally 
"captured  or  destroyed  the  Spanish  squadron,"  and 
planted  Old  Glory  on  the  ramparts  above  the  fortress 
at  Cavite  on  Spanish  soil.  And  there  she  floats  to-day, 
now,  as  ever,  the  sign  of  freedom  from  the  yoke  of  the 
oppressor,  and  the  emblem  of  human  liberty. 

After  the  battle  of  May  1,  George  Dewey  found  him 
self  confronted  with  a  peculiar  condition  of  things  in  the 
Philippines.  The  attention  of  other  nations  was  at  once 
attracted  to  the  desirability  of  sharing  in  the  spoils  of 
conquest,  if  spoils  there  were  to  be,  and  the  war  ships 


DEWEY   IN   THE  CIVIL  WAR 


199 


of  several  nations  were  headed  for  the  Philippine  waters. 
Representatives  of  Germany  in  particular  seemed  inclined 
to  rather  take  sides  with  the  Spanish  authorities,  and 
there  were  at  times  apprehensions  lest  some  violation 
of  the  treaty  of  neutrality  might  lead  to  serious  results. 
The  Emperor's  brother.  Prince  Henry,  who  represented  his 


IMPERIAL  PALACE,  CONSTANTINOPLE,  TURKEY 

government  at  Hong-Kong,  called  on  Commodore  Dewey 
to  say  good-bye  as  the  American  fleet  was  about  to  leave 
Chinese  waters  for  Manila.  United  States  Consul  Wild- 
man  and  Captain  Gridley,  of  the  Olympia,  were  on  the 
quarter-deck  of  the  flagship  in  conversation  with  the 
Commodore  and  the  Prince.  The  Prince  said  laughingly 
to  the  three,  but  looking  Dewey  in  the  eye:  — 


200  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

"I  will  send  my  ships  to  Manila  to  see  that  you  be 
have." 

With  that  perfect  grace  and  dignity  for  which  the 
Commodore  was  noted  he  courteously  replied  :- 

"I  shall  be  delighted  to  have  you  do  so,  your  High 
ness;  but  permit  me  to  caution  you  to  keep  your  ships 
from  between  my  guns  and  the  enemy." 

The  Prince  saw  the  point,  and  he  knew  full  well  from 
that  moment  that  George  Dewey  meant  just  what  he 
said,  and  that  it  would  not  be  well  for  any  one  to  inter 
fere  with  him  in  his  dealings  with  Spain  or  the  Spanish 
fleet, 

Nor  was  this  by  any  means  the  only  difficulty  which 
presented  itself.  The  natives  of  the  Philippine  Islands 
were  little  else  than  savages,  and  had  imbibed  just 
enough  of  civilization  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  to  in 
spire  them  with  hatred  for  the  oppression  Spain  had 
put  upon  them,  and  had  been  engaged  in  an  Herculean 
struggle  for  their  own  liberty  for  many  years.  But  till 
the  time  of  the  entrance  of  George  Dewey  to  Manila 
Bay  their  cause  had  been  a  well-nigh  hopeless  one. 
Their  acknowledged  chieftain  had  been  expelled  from 
the  islands,  and  was  exiled  to  foreign  lands.  But  with 
the  victory  of  the  Americans  on  May  1,  acting  under 
the  advice  of  Consul  Wildman,  this  Filipino  chieftain, 
Aguinaldo  by  name,  was  returned  to  his  native  land,  and 
at  once  began  active  co-operation  with  Commodore  Dewey 
against  the  Spanish  forces  still  in  possession  of  a  large 
part  of  the  island  group.  These  native  insurgents  were 
armed  from  the  captured  stores  of  Cavite  arsenal,  and 


DEWEY   IN   THE   CIVIL   WAR 


201 


immediately  began  aggressive  movements  against  their 
common  enemy.  So  successful  were  they  in  every  battle 
that  they  soon  became  a  menace  to  the  Americans 
themselves.  Many  of  the  chiefs  among  the  natives  be 
lieved  they  were  entitled  to  all  the  fruits  of  the  Spanish 
defeat,  and  organized  a  provisional  government  of  their 


BIRD'S-EYE  VIEW  OF  CAIRO,   EGYPT 

own,  and  demanded  recognition  from  the  United  States 
authorities.  To  handle  such  an  element  without  serious 
trouble  required  the  skill  of  a  statesman  and  trained 
diplomat;  yet  the  man  who,  thus  far  in  his  life,  had 
confined  his  energies  very  largely  to  a  study  of  the  art 
of  warfare,  at  once  rose  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  the 
masterly  exhibition  of  diplomacy  displayed  by  George 


202 


LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


Dewey  has  commanded 
the  admiration  of  the 
world.  In  all  emer 
gencies  which  have 
arisen  the  man  has 
been  equal  to  the  oc- 
casi  on.  In  a  word, 
George  Dewey  has 
demonstrated  an  abil 
ity  as  a  statesman 
and  diplomat  equaled 
only  by  his  display 
of  ability  as  a  fighter 
and  naval  commander, 
and  few  indeed  are 
there  among  all  our 
public  servants  so 
well  entitled  to  be  considered  "an  all-'round  man." 

The  unfortunate  war  with  the  Filipinos  came  about 
only  after  a  visit  to  the  United  States  of  an  emissary  of 
the  insurgent  provisional  government,  who  was  encour 
aged  by  the  attitude  of  some  Senators  and  Representatives 
at  Washington  to  believe  that  the  people  of  the  United 
States  were  opposed  to  an  extension  of  American  sover 
eignty  to  the  Philippines.  In  a  letter  to  his  brother,  the 
Honorable  Charles  Dewey,  of  Montpelier,  written  before 
the  outbreak  of  hostilities,  and  while  the  ratification  of  the 
Treaty  of  Paris  was  pending  in  the  United  States  Senate, 
George  Dewey  said:  "We  are  waiting  to  hear  from  Wash 
ington  that  the  United  States  owns  the  islands,  and  then 


TOMB-MOSQUE  OF  CAID  BEY,  CAIRO,   EGYPT 


DEWEY   IN   THE   CIVIL   WAR 


203 


will  follow  the  question  of  dealing  with  the  insurgents. 
General  Otis  thinks  Aguinaldo  is  losing  his  power,  and 
that  the  insurrection  will  soon  disintegrate.  I  hope  so." 
George  Dewey  is  a  man  of  peace,  but  he  believes  the  best 
way  to  promote  it  is  to  always  be  prepared  for  war. 

Among  the  many  precautionary  orders  issued  from  the 
Navy  Department  preceding  the  declaration  of  war  with 
Spain,  were  several  dispatches  to  Commodore  George 
Dewey  which  have  not  hitherto  appeared  in  the  public 
prints. 

While  Dewey  was  yet  at  Yokohama,  Japan,  January 
25,  1898,  he  was  cabled  by  the  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of 
Navigation  to  "retain  until  further  orders  the  crew  of 
the  squadron  whose 
terms  of  enlistment 
have  expired."  The 
officials  at  Washing 
ton  knew  the  import 
ance  of  trained  men 
on  board  the  ships,  and 
they  also  knew  that 
Commodore  Dewey 
could  be  depended  on 
to  keep  the  best  of 
them  when  authorized 
to  do  so. 

As  early  as  Febru 
ary  25,  1898,  Assistant- 
Secretary  Roosevelt 

Cabled,    under    seal     of  A  STREET  SCENE,  CAIRO,  EGYPT 


204 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


secrecy  and  confidence,  to  order  all  boats  of  his  squadron 
to  Hong-Kong,  and  to  keep  full  of  coal.  "In  the  event 
of  a  declaration  of  war  it  will  be  your  duty  to  see  that 
the  Spanish  squadron  does  not  leave  the  Asiatic  coast, 
and  then  offensive  operations  in  the  Philippine  Islands." 
The  next  day,  as  if  the  first  order  were  not  sufficient, 


BOATS  SAILING  ON  THE  NILE 

followed  a  cable  from   Secretary  Long  to  "Keep   full   of 
coal,  the  best  that  can  be  had." 

April  1  Dewey  was  ordered  to  "fill  up  with  pro 
visions  purchased  on  station."  Then  he  was  asked  to 
let  them  know  at  Washington  just  how  many  days' 
provisions  he  had  on  hand.  The  same  message  also 
indicated  a  regard  for  the  fellows  who  do  the  fighting, 


DEWEY   IN   THE   CIVIL  WAR 


205 


as  the  Secretary  wanted  to  know  how  much  tobacco 
and  soap  was  needed.  Three  days  later  Dewey  cabled 
that  he  had  chartered  a  steamer  with  three  thousand 
tons  of  coal  on  board,  and  asked  authority  to  buy  the 
boat  and  cargo.  The  authority  was  given,  and  he  was 
told  to  charge  the  expense  to  special  appropriation. 
Then  Dewey  showed  his  skill  as  a  business  man  by 


YOKOHAMA  AND  HARBOR,  JAPAN 

making  a  good  bargain  for  his  country,  and  by  engag 
ing  the  crew  of  the  purchased  vessel  to  manage  her 
till  they  should  be  no  longer  needed.  Five  days  later 
he  reports  having  purchased  another  vessel  for  supplies, 
which  he  armed,  equipped,  and  manned  immediately. 
There  was  no  secrecy  as  to  the  price  paid  for  boats 


206  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

either.  All  his  dealings  were  open  to  the  light  of  day, 
and  were  held  to  be  confidential  only  for  diplomatic 
reasons  until  the  facts  could  be  safely  made  known. 

On  April  7  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  sent  an 
order  to  Commodore  Dewey  to  "land  all  woodwork, 
stores,  etc.,  not  absolutely  necessary  to  have  for  opera 
tions.'' 

April  24  Dewey  was  notified  by  Secretary  Long 
that  war  had  commenced  between  Spain  and  the  United 
States.  He  was  directed  to  "proceed  at  once  to  the 
Philippine  Islands.  Commence  operations  immediately, 
particularly  against  the  Spanish  fleet.  You  must  cap 
ture  or  destroy  vessels.  Use  utmost  endeavors."  This 
was  the  famous  "capture  or  destroy"  message  popularly 
accredited  to  President  McKinley.  It  was  written,  how 
ever,  and  sent  by  Secretary  Long.  To  this  the  Commo 
dore  replied,  showing  how  thoroughly  he  had  carried  out 
his  instructions  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's  notice :  "  The 
squadron  will  leave  for  Manila,  Philippine  Islands,  im 
mediately  upon  the  arrival  of  the  United  States  consul 
from  Manila."  The  same  day  Dewey  was  requested  by 
the  Governor  of  Hong-Kong  to  get  out  of  the  harbor, 
and  he  at  once  made  ready  to  leave  for  Mirs  Bay  to 
await  telegraphic  instructions.  This  he  communicated 
to  Secretary  Long,  who  cabled  him  the  following  day, 
April  26,  the  President's  proclamation,  as  follows  :- 

WHEREAS,  By  an  act  of  Congress  approved  April  26,  1898, 
it  is  declared  that  war  exists  and  that  war  has  existed  since  the 
twenty-first  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1898,  including  said  day,  between 
the  United  States  of  America  and  the  Kingdom  of  Spain ;  and 


DEWEY   IN   THE   CIVIL  WAR  207 

WHEREAS,  It  being  desirable  that  such  war  should  be  conducted 
upon  principles  in  harmony  with  the  present  views  of  nations  and 
sanctioned  by  their  recent  practice,  it  has  already  been  announced 
that  the  policy  of  this  government  will  be  not  to  resort  to  privat 
eering,  but  to  adhere  to  the  rules  of  the  Declaration  of  Paris: 

Now,  therefore,  I,  William  McKinley,  President  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  by  virtue  of  the  power  vested  in  me  by  the 
Constitution  and  the  laws,  do  hereby  declare  and  proclaim  :  One, 
the  neutral  flag  covers  the  enemy's  goods,  with  the  exception  of 
contraband  of  war ;  two,  neutral  goods,  contraband  of  war.  are  not 
liable  to  confiscation  under  the  enemy's  flag ;  three,  blockades,  in 
order  to  be  binding,  must  be  effective  :  four,  Spanish  merchant 
vessels  in  any  ports  or  places  within  the  United  States  shall  be 
allowed  till  May  31,  1898,  inclusive,  for  loading  their  cargoes 
and  departing  from  such  ports  or  places,  and  such  Spanish  mer 
chant  vessels,  if  met  at  sea  by  any  United  States  ship,  shall  be 
permitted  to  continue  their  voyage,  if,  on  examination  of  their 
papers,  it  shall  appear  that  their  cargoes  were  taken  on  board  be 
fore  the  expiration  of  the  above  term,  provided  that  nothing  herein 
contained  shall  apply  to  Spanish  vessels  having  on  board  any  offi 
cer  in  the  military  or  naval  service  of  the  enemy,  or  any  coal,  ex 
cept  such  as  may  be  necessary  for  their  voyage,  or  any  other  article 
prohibited  or  contraband  of  war,  or  any  dispatch  of  or  to  the 
Spanish  government ;  five,  any  Spanish  merchant  vessel  which,  prior 
to  April  21,  1898,  shall  have  sailed  from  any  foreign  port  or  place 
in  the  United  States,  shall  be  permitted  to  enter  such  port  or 
place,  and  to  discharge  her  cargo,  and  afterwards,  forthwith,  to  de 
part  without  molestation,  and  any  such  vessel,  if  met  at  sea  by  any 
United  States  ship,  shall  be  permitted  to  continue  her  voyage  to 
any  port  not  blockaded  ;  six,  the  right  of  search  is  to  be  exercised 
with  strict  regard  for  the  rights  of  neutrals,  and  the  voyages  of 
mail  steamers  are  not  to  be  interfered  with  except  on  the  clearest 
grounds  of  suspicion  of  a  violation  of  law,  in  respect  to  contra 
band  or  blockade. 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused 
the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Washington  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of 
April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 


208  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

ninety-eight,  and   of    the    independence   of   the   United    States   the  one 
hundred    and    twenty-second.  WILLIAM  McKiNLEY. 

By  the  President : 

JOHN  SHERMAN,  Secretary  of  State. 

April  27  the  United  States  consul  from  Manila  ar 
rived  at  Mirs  Bay.  After  informing  his  government  of 
his  contemplated  movements,  Commodore  Dewey  at  once 
prepared  to  set  sail  for  the  Philippine  Islands. 

Then  came  the  Battle  of  Manila,  reported  elsewhere  at 
great  length.  After  the  battle  Dewey  sent  to  the  officials 
at  Washington  a  few  very  modest  dispatches,  in  all  of 
which  he  gave  the  most  of  the  credit  for  his  victory  to 
the  commanders  and  men  of  his  fleet,  notwithstanding 
that  each  of  the  officers  and  men  gave  all  the  credit  for 
the  splendid  victory  achieved  to  the  commodore,  whose 
master  mind  had  conceived  and  directed  the  execution  of 
the  plan  of  operation  in  the  minutest  detail. 

Dewey  indicated  the  character  of  man  he  is  when,  on 
May  15,  in  acknowledging  to  the  President  his  own 
promotion  to  the  rank  of  a  rear-admiral,  he  also  urgently 
recommended  that  each  of  his  gallant  commanders  be 
advanced  ten  numbers  for  their  part  in  the  Battle  of 
Manila.  In  making  this  request,  Dewey  refers  to  the 
officials  in  a  complimentary  manner,  and  says:  "Without 
their  aid  I  could  have  done  nothing." 

From  Dewey's  dispatches  to  the  department  at  Wash 
ington  it  is  plainly  seen  that  he  had  confidence  in  the 
honor  and  integrity  of  the  Filipino  chieftain  Aguinaldo, 
from  whom  he  expected  much  assistance.  That  this  leader 
of  the  insurgent  forces  should  have  finally  turned  against 


DEWEY   IN   THE   CIVIL  WAR  209 

the  Americans  is  one  of  the  tragedies  connected  with  the 
Spanish  War. 

Dewey  was  ever  on  the  alert  to  see  that  the  men 
under  his  command  were  properly  provided  for.  May 
20,  1898,  he  cabled  for  supplies,  and  indicated  that  he 
wanted  good  ones. 

And  then  came  the  crowning  act  of  confidence  on 
the  part  of  the  government  at  Washington.  Until  now 
Dewey  had  acted  under  general  orders,  at  least,  from  the 
seat  of  government.  Now  he  was  cabled:  '"Exercise 
your  own  discretion  in  all  matters,  and  be  governed 
according  to  circumstances,  which  you  know  and  which 
we  cannot  know  here."  And  well  he  exercised  it,  at  all 
times  upholding  the  honor  and  integrity  of  the  United 
States  as  against  all  comers.  When  the  German  naval 
officers  in  the  Philippine  waters  seemed  inclined  to  take 
sides  with  the  enemies  of  America  they  were  soon  called 
upon  to  observe  the  laws  of  neutrality.  And  they  knew 
that  George  Dewey  was  not  to  be  trifled  with  either. 
About  the  middle  of  July,  Dewey  cabled  that  Aguinaldo 
had  informed  him  that  the  German  man-of-war  Irene  had 
interfered  with  the  insurgents  in  their  operations  against 
the  Spaniards  at  Isla  Grande,  and  he  had  sent  the  Raleigh 
and  Concord  there  to  straighten  the  matter  out.  These 
vessels  proceeded  to  take  the  island  and  some  1,300  pris 
oners  of  war,  with  arms  and  ammunition.  The  Irene 
retired  from  the  bay  on  the  approach  of  the  American 
vessels.  The  commander  of  the  German  war-ship  did  not 
wish  to  try  issues  with  any  of  the  vessels  of.  Dewey's 
fleet. 

D.— 14 


210 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


July  14,  the  day  following  the  Irene  incident  re 
ferred  to,  Admiral  Dewey  received  a  communication  from 
General  Emilio  Aguinaldo,  a  document  setting  forth  the 
formation  of  the  provisional  government  of  the  Philip 
pines  by  the  Filipinos,  independent  of  the  United  States. 
The  several  proclamations  accompanying  this  document 
were  at  once  forwarded  to  the  government  at  Washing 
ton  by  the  conservative  Admiral  in  the  Philippines. 


HONG-KONG  AND  HARBOR,  CHINA 

After  the  arrival  of  General  Wesley  Merritt  in  the 
Philippines,  Admiral  Dewey  very  properly  co-operated  with 
him  in  all  matters  affecting  the  operations  against  the 
Spanish  arms.  The  correspondence  passing  between  these 
two  officers  and  the  Governor-General  of  the  Philippine 
Islands  is  interesting  reading,  as  showing  the  wisdom  and 
tact  displayed  by  the  American  officers.  The  result  of 
those  negotiations,  and  of  the  refusal  of  the  Spanish 


DEWEY  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR  211 

authorities  to  surrender  to  the  Americans,  is  now  a  matter 
of  history.  The  fleet  under  Rear-Admiral  George  Dewey 
performed  an  important  part  of  the  work  in  the  assault 
of  Manila  which  followed,  but  as  there  were  no  vessels 
pitted  against  him  it  will  not  be  recorded  in  history  as 
a  naval  engagement. 

After  the  fall  of  Manila  and  the  complete  occupation 
of  the  Philippine  Islands  by  the  United  States  forces,  Ad 
miral  Dewey  was  urged  by  his  friends  to  return  to  the 
United  States.  Much  of  a  contradictory  nature  was  said 
and  written  on  the  subject  and  it  is  perhaps  as  well  that 
the  truth  be  stated  here  as  to  his  own  wishes  on  the  sub 
ject.  Under  date  of  August  30,  in  a  message  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  at  Washington,  George  Dewey  es 
pecially  requested  to  be  permitted  to  remain  where  he 
was.  Here  are  his  own  words:  "I  trust  it  may  not  be 
necessary  to  order  me  to  Washington.  Should  regret  very 
much  to  leave  here  while  matters  remain  in  present  crit 
ical  condition."  Dewey  was  then  requested  to  send  his 
views  on  questions  in  general  as  to  the  Philippines  to 
the  President  by  the  quickest  method  possible,  and  to  ad 
vise  with  General  Merritt  before  he  should  leave  the 
islands. 

Standing  on  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Baltimore  August 
22,  1898,  and  gazing  at  the  American  flag  over  Fort  San 
tiago,  within  the  walled  city  of  Manila,  Admiral  Dewey 
said:  "I  hope  it  floats  there  forever,  forever.  It  is  strange 
that  we  have  wrested  an  empire  from  those  people,  and 
that  with  the  loss  of  only  a  few  men.  Our  Navy  did 
most  remarkable  work.  If  I  were  a  religious  man,  and  I 


212  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

hope  I  am,  I  should  say  that  it  was  the  hand  of  God.  I 
remember,  when  we  engaged  the  fleet,  seeing  shells  fired 
directly  at  us,  and  I  do  not  understand  under  heaven  how 
we  escaped. 

"Then  we  came  up  here  on  the  Olympia  and  sent 
them  an  ultimatum.  In  three  letters  written  by  Consul 
Williams  I  told  them  if  they  fired  another  shot  I  would 
destroy  their  city.  I  demanded  the  surrender  of  some 
small  vessels  that  scurried  into  the  Pasig,  and  which  I 
believed  to  be  torpedo  boats,  and  I  asked  the  joint  use  of 
the  cable.  We  were  close  in  and  alone;  but  they  did  not 
fire,  and  never  did. 

"I  am  proud  of  these  men  under  me,  and  proud  to 
be  their  leader.  They  are  all  efficient.  I  gave  up  the 
Olympia,  and  sent  her  to  Hong-Kong,  and  came  on  the 
Baltimore.  Here  I  find  everything  as  efficient  as  on 
the  Olympia.  I  am  sending  all  of  the  squadron  up  to 
be  cleaned,  and  have  asked  for  a  battleship  and  an  ar 
mored  cruiser. 

"I  do  not  intend  to  go  home  unless  it  is  absolutely 
necessary,  for  there  is  much  work  still  to  be  done  here. 
I  do  not  want  to  go  until  it  is  all  over.  The  truth  has 
not  been  told  about  this  place.  It  is  not  so  hot,  and  the 
weather  is  much  better  than  has  been  asserted.  In  the 
fleet  we  have  had  less  sickness  than  on  ordinary  cruises." 

In  a  letter  to  his  sister  written  a  few  weeks  after  the 
Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  the  Admiral  used  these  words: 
"Just  a  line  to  thank  you  for  your  kind  letter  of  April 
6,  and  also  for  your  prayers  for  my  safety.  Perhaps  they 
did  help.  Who  knows?" 


DEWEY  IN   THE   CIVIL  WAR 


213 


The  career  of  George  Dewey  has  been  an  eventful  one, 
and  during  his  threescore  years,  forty  of  which  have 
been  spent  in  the  active  service  of  his  country,  he  has 
traveled  far  and  wide  and  has  come  in  contact  with  some 
of  the  greatest  minds  in  the  world.  And  there  are  many 
who  now  believe  that  in  reality  he  has  but  just  entered 
upon  his  larger  career  of  usefulness,  and  predict  for  him 
still  higher  honors  at  the  hands  of  the  American  people. 
And  who  can  tell  ? 


jDiederich* 


CHAPTER   VIII 
THE  BATTLE  OF  MANILA  BAY 

CRUSHING    DEFEAT   OF    THE    SPANISH    NAVY    IN    PHILIPPINE 
WATERS  — "OLD  GLORY"   PLANTED  ON   SPANISH   SOIL 

FORMER  officer  of  the  United 
States  Navy,  then  a  correspond 
ent  for  the  New  York  Herald, 
was  on  the  flagship  Olympia 
during  the  Battle  of  Manila, 
and  was  appointed  by  Commo 
dore  Dewey  as  aid  during  the 
engagement.  From  the  excel 
lent  report  of  the  events  lead 
ing  up  to  and  during  the  battle 
cabled  to  his  paper,  we  take 

the  following  most  interesting  account  of  that  memorable 

event : — 

MANILA,  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS,  on  board  the  flagship  Olympia,  \ 
May  1,  via  HONG-KONG,  Saturday,  May  7.  \ 

Not  one  Spanish  flag  flies  in  Manila  Bay  to-day.     Not 
one   Spanish  war-ship   floats   as   our  prize. 

(214) 


.$.  <Jrui£er  that  fired 
iUe    firjst  $$Uot  m-  tUe-  ^ 


THE  BATTLE  OF  MANILA  BAY 


215 


More  than  two  hundred  Spanish  dead  and  five  hun 
dred  to  seven  hundred  wounded  attest  to  the  accuracy 
of  the  American  fire. 


COMMODORE    GEORGE    DEWEY 


Commodore  Dewey  attacked  the  Spanish  position  at 
Cavite  this  morning.  He  swept  five  times  along  the  line 
and  scored  one  of  the  most  brilliant  successes  in  mod 
ern  warfare. 


216  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

That  our  loss  is  trifling  adds  to  the  pleasure  of  vic 
tory  without  detracting  from  its  value.  The  number  of 
hits  our  vessels  received  proved  how  brave  and  stubborn 
was  the  defense  made  by  the  Spanish  forces. 

Miraculous  as  it  may  appear,  not  one  of  our  men  was 
killed,  and  only  eight  were  wounded.  Those  who  were 
wounded  suffered  only  slight  injuries. 

Commodore  Dewey  arrived  off  Manila  Bay  last  night 
and  decided  to  enter  the  bay  at  once. 

With  all  its  lights  out  the  squadron  steamed  into 
Boca  Grande,  with  crews  at  the  guns.  This  was  the  or 
der  of  the  squadron,  which  was  kept  during  the  whole 
time  of  the  first  battle:  — 

The  flagship  OLYMPIA,  BALTIMORE,  RALEIGH,  PETREL, 
CONCORD,  BOSTON. 

The  flagship  passed  Corregidor  Island  without  a  sign 
being  given  that  the  Spaniards  were  aware  of  its  ap 
proach. 

Not  until  the  flagship  was  a  mile  beyond  the  Cor 
regidor  was  a  gun  fired.  Then  one  heavy  shot  went 
screaming  over  the  Raleigh  and  the  Otympia,  followed  by 
a  second,  which  fell  further  astern. 

The  Raleigh,  the  Concord,  and  the  Boston  replied,  the 
Concord's  shells  exploding  apparently  exactly  inside  the 
shore  battery,  which  fired  no  more. 

Our  squadron  slowed  down  to  barely  steerage  way 
and  the  men  were  allowed  to  sleep  alongside  their  guns. 
Commodore  Dewey  had  timed  our  arrival  so  that  we 
were  within  five  miles  of  the  city  of  Manila  at  day 
break. 


THE   BATTLE   OF  MANILA  BAY  219 

We  then  sighted  the  Spanish  squadron,  Rear-Admiral 
Montojo  commanding,  off  Cavite.  Here  the  Spaniards  had 
a  well-equipped  navy  yard  called  Cavite  Arsenal. 

Admiral  Montojo 's  flag  was  flying  on  the  3,500-ton 
protected  cruiser  Eeina  Christina.  The  protected  Cast-ilia, 
of  3,200  tons,  was  moored  ahead,  and  astern  to  the  port 
battery,  and  to  seaward  were  the  cruisers  Don  Juan  de 
Austria,  Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa,  Isla  de  Cuba,  Isla  de  Luzon, 
El  Correo,  Marques  del  Duero,  and  General  Lezo. 

These  ships  and  the  flagship  remained  under  way  dur 
ing  most  of  the  action. 

With  the  United  States  flag  flying  at  all  their  mast 
heads,  our  ships  moved  to  the  attack  in  line  ahead,  with 
the  speed  of  eight  knots,  first  passing  in  front  of  Manila, 
where  the  action  was  begun  by  three  batteries  mount 
ing  guns  powerful  enough  to  send  a  shell  over  us  at  a 
distance  of  five  miles. 

The  Concord's  guns  boomed  out  a  reply  to  these  bat 
teries  with  two  shots.  No  more  were  fired,  because 
Commodore  Dewey  could  not  engage  with  these  bat 
teries  without  sending  death  and  destruction  into  the 
crowded  city. 

As  we  neared  Cavite  two  very  powerful  submarine 
mines  were  exploded  ahead  of  the  flagship.  This  was 
at  six  minutes  past  five  o'clock. 

The  Spaniards  evidently  had  misjudged  our  position. 
Immense  volumes  of  water  were  thrown  high  in  the 
air  by  these  destroyers,  but  no  harm  was  done  to  our  ships. 

Commodore  Dewey  had  fought  with  Farragut  at  New 
Orleans  and  Mobile  Bay,  where  he  had  his  first  experience 


220  LIFE   OF  ADMIEAL  DEWEY 

with  torpedoes.  Not  knowing  how  many  more  mines 
there  might  be  ahead,  he  still  kept  on  without  faltering. 

No  other  mines  exploded,  however,  and  it  is  believed 
that  the  Spaniards  had  only  these  two  in  place. 

Only  a  few  minutes  later  the  shore  battery  at  Cavite 
Point  sent  over  the  flagship  a  shot  that  nearly  hit  the 
battery  in  Manila,  but  soon  the  guns  got  a  better  range, 
and  the  shells  began  to  strike  near  us  or  burst  close 
aboard  from  both  the  batteries  and  the  Spanish  vessels. 

The  heat  was  intense.  Men  stripped  off  all  clothing 
except  their  trousers. 

As  the  Olympia  drew  nearer  all  was  silent  on  board 
as  if  the  ship  had  been  empty,  except  for  the  whirr  of 
blowers  and  the  throb  of  engines. 

Suddenly   a   shell   burst   directly   over   us. 

From  the  boatswain's  mate  at  the  after  5-inch  gun 
came  a  hoarse  cry. 

"KEMEMBER  THE  MAINE!"  arose  from  the  throats  of 
five  hundred  men  at  the  guns. 

This  watchword  was  caught  up  in  turrets  and  fire- 
rooms,  wherever  seaman  or  fireman  stood  at  his  post. 

"Remember  the  Maine!"  had  rung  out  for  defiance 
and  revenge.  Its  utterance  seemed  unpremeditated,  but 
was  evidently  in  every  man's  mind,  and  now  that  the 
moment  had  come  to  make  adequate  reply  to  the  mur 
der  of  the  Maine's  crew,  every  man  shouted  what  was 
in  his  heart. 

The    Olympia  was   now  ready   to   begin   the   fight. 

Commodore  Dewey,  his  chief  of  staff,  Commander 
Lamberton,  and  aid  and  myself,  with  Executive  Officer 


THE   BATTLE   OF  MANILA  BAY 


221 


Lieutenant   Eees  and   Navigator   Lieutenant   Calkins,  who 
conned  ship  most  admirably,  were  on  the  forward  bridge. 


THE  FLAGSHIP       OLYMPIA"    LEADING  THE  FLEET  INTO  ACTION 


Captain  Gridley  was  in  the  conning  tower,  as  it  was  thought 
unsafe  to   risk  losing  all  the   senior  officers  by  one  shell. 
"You   may   fire   when  ready,  Gridley,"   said   the    Com 
modore,   and   at   nineteen    minutes    of    six    o'clock,    at    a 


222  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

distance  of  5,500  yards,  the  starboard  8-inch  gun  in  the 
forward  turret  roared  forth  a  compliment  to  the  Span 
ish  forts. 

Presently  similar  guns  from  the  Baltimore  and  the 
Boston  sent  250-pound  shells  hurtling  toward  the  CastiHa 
and  the  Eeina  Christina. 

The  Spaniards  seemed  encouraged  to  fire  faster,  know 
ing  exactly  our  distance,  while  we  had  to  guess  theirs. 
Their  ships  and  shore  guns  were  making  things  hot  for 
us. 

The  piercing  scream  of  shot  was  varied  often  by 
the  bursting  of  time  fuse  shells,  fragments  of  which 
would  lash  the  water  like  shrapnel  or  cut  our  hull  and 
rigging. 

One  large  shell  that  was  coming  straight  at  the 
Olympiads  forward  bridge  fortunately  fell  within  less 
than  one  hundred  feet  away.  One  fragment  cut  the 
rigging  exactly  over  the  heads .  of  Lamberton,  Rees,  and 
myself. 

Another  struck  the  bridge  gratings  in  line  with  it. 
A  third  passed  just  under  Commodore  Dewey  and 
gouged  a  hole  in  the  deck.  Incidents  like  these  were 
plentiful. 

Our  men  naturally  chafed  at  being  exposed  without 
returning  fire  from  all  our  guns,  but  laughed  at  danger 
and  chatted  good-humoredly.  A  few  nervous  fellows 
could  not  help  dodging  mechanically  when  shells  would 
burst  right  over  them  or  close  board,  or  would  strike 
the  water  and  pass  overhead,  with  the  peculiar  splutter 
ing  roar  made  by  a  tumbling  rifled  projectile. 


GEORGE  DEWEY  ON  THE  BRIDGE  OF  THE       OLYMPIA"   DURING  THE   BATTLE 


CD 


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THE   BATTLE   OF  MANILA  BAY  225 

Still  the  flagship  steered  for  the  centre  of  the  Span 
ish  line,  and,  as  our  other  ships  were  astern,  the  Olympia 
received  most  of  the  Spaniards'  attention. 

"Open  with  all  guns,"  said  Dewey,  and  the  ship 
brought  her  port  broadside  bearing. 

The  roar  of  all  the  flagship's  5-inch  rapid  firers 
was  followed  by  the  deep  diapason  of  her  after-turret 
8-inchers. 

Soon  other  vessels  were  equally  hard  at  work,  and 
we  could  see  that  our  shells  were  making  Cavite  harbor 
hotter  for  the  Spaniards  than  they  had  made  the  ap 
proach  for  us. 

Protected  by  their  shore  batteries  and  made  safe 
from  close  attack  by  shallow  water,  the  Spaniards  were 
in  a  strong  position.  They  put  up  a  gallant  fight. 

The  Spanish  ships  were  sailing  back  and  forth  be 
hind  the  Castillo. ,  and  their  fire,  too,  was  hot. 

One  shot  struck  the  Baltimore  and  passed  clean 
through  her,  fortunately  hitting  no  one.  Another  ripped 
up  her  main  deck,  disabled  a  6-inch  gun,  and  ex 
ploded  a  box  of  3-pounder  ammunition,  wounding  eight 
men. 

The  Olympia  was  struck  abreast  the  gun  in  the  ward 
room  by  a  shell  which  burst  outside,  doing  little  damage. 

The  signal  halyards  were  cut  from  Lieutenant  Brum 
by's  hand  on  the  after  bridge.  A  shell  entered  the 
Boston's  port  quarter  and  burst  in  Ensign  Dodridge's 
stateroom,  starting  a  hot  fire,  and  fire  was  also  caused 
by  a  shell  w^hich  burst  in  the  port  hammock  netting. 
Both  these  fires  were  quickly  put  out. 

D.— 15 


226  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Another  shell  passed  through  the  Boston's  foremast 
"just  in  front  of  Captain  Wildes,  on  the  bridge. 

After  having  made  four  runs  along  the  Spanish  line, 
finding  the  chart  incorrect.  Lieutenant  Calkins,  the 
Olympiads  navigator,  told  the  Commodore  he  believed  he 
could  take  the  ship  nearer  the  enemy,  with  lead  going 
to  watch  the  depth  of  water.  The  flagship  started  over 
the  course  for  the  fifth  time,  running  within  two  thou 
sand  yards  of  the  Spanish  vessels. 

At  this  range  even  6-pounders  were  effective,  and  the 
storm  of  shells  poured  upon  the  unfortunate  Spanish 
began  to  show  marked  results. 

Three  of  the  enemy's  vessels  were  seen  burning  and 
their  fire  slackened. 

On  finishing  this  run  Commodore  Dewey  decided  to 
give  the  men  breakfast,  as  they  had  been  at  the  guns 
two  hours  with  only  one  cup  of  coffee  to  sustain  them. 
Action  ceased  temporarily  at  twenty-five  minutes  of 
eight  o'clock,  the  other  ships  passing  the  flagship  and 
the  men  cheering  lustily. 

Our  ships  remained  beyond  range  of  the  enemy's  guns 
until  ten  minutes  of  eleven  o'clock,  when  the  signal  for 
close  action  again  went  up.  The  Baltimore  had  the  place 
of  honor  in  the  lead,  with  the  flagship  following  and 
the  other  ships  as  before. 

The  Baltimore  began  firing  at  the  Spanish  ships  and 
batteries  at  sixteen  minutes  past  eleven  o'clock,  making 
a  series  of  hits  as  if  at  target  practice. 

The  Spaniards  replied  very  slowly,  and  the  Commo 
dore  signaled  the  Raleigh,  the  Boston,  the  Concord,  and 


THE   BATTLE   OF  MANILA  BAY  227 

the  Petrel  to  go  into  the  inner  harbor  and  destroy  all  the 
enemy's  ships. 

By  her  light  draught  the  little  Petrel  was  enabled  to 
move  within  one  thousand  yards.  Here,  firing  swiftly, 
but  accurately,  she  commanded  everything  still  flying  the 
Spanish  flag. 

Other  ships  were  also  doing  their  whole  duty,  and 
soon  not  one  red  and  yellow  ensign  remained  aloft,  ex 
cept  on  a  battery  up  the  coast. 

The  Spanish  flagship  and  the  Castillo,  had  long  been 
burning  fiercely,  and  the  last  vessel  to  be  abandoned 
was  the  Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa,  which  lurched  over  and 
sank. 

Then  the  Spanish  flag  on  the  arsenal  staff  was  hauled 
down,  and  at  half-past  twelve  o'clock  a  white  flag  was 
hoisted  there.  Signal  was  made  to  the  Petrel  to  destroy 
all  the  vessels  in  the  inner  harbor,  and  Lieutenant 
Hughes,  with  an  armed  boat's  crew,  set  fire  to  the  Don 
Juan  de  Austria,  Marques  del  Duero,  the  Is  la  de  Cuba,  and 
the  El  Correo. 

The  large  transport  Manila  and  many  tug  boats  and 
small  craft  fell  into  our  hands. 

"Capture  or  destroy  Spanish  squadron,"  were  Dewey's 
orders.  Never  were  instructions  more  effectually  carried 
out. 

Within  seven  hours  after  arriving  on  the  scene  of 
action  nothing  remained  to  be  done. 

Five  days  after  the  date  of  the  foregoing  dispatches, 
the  same  correspondent  reviewed  the  story  of  the  battle 
at  greater  length,  and  we  deem  this  second  dispatch  of 


228 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


sufficient    importance   to   give   it  a  place    in   this    perma 
nent  story  of  the   Battle  of  Manila  Bay. 


THE       OLYMPIA'S"  CREW  CHEERING  THE  COMMODORE 

It  was  in  the  latter  part  of  last  February   that  Com 
modore    George    Dewey,  commanding   the    Asiatic  station 


THE  BATTLE  OF  MANILA  BAY      229 

of  the  United  States  Navy,  began  to  feel  that  the  drift 
of  events  was  toward  a  warlike  rather  than  a  peaceful 
settlement  of  our  differences  with  Spain.  At  any  rate, 
he  decided  to  bring  all  his  squadron  together,  and  he 
chose  Hong-Kong  as  the  place  of  rendezvous  for  strategic 
reasons,  the  importance  and  value  of  which  were  fully 
justified  by  subsequent  events. 

The  vessels  attached  to  this  station  were  as  follows:- 

Olympia,  flagship,  Captain  C.  V.  Gridley,  commanding  ; 
Boston,  Captain  Frank  Wildes ;  Concord,  Commander  Asa 
Walker;  Petrel,  Commander  E.  P.  Wood.  The  Raleigh,  Cap 
tain  J.  B.  Coghlan  commanding,  arrived  from  New  York 
soon  afterward ;  and  just  before  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay  the 
Baltimore,  commanded  by  Captain  N.  M.  Dyer,  was  detached 
from  the  Pacific  station  and  given  to  Commodore  Dewey. 

These  vessels  were  all  cruisers  —  not,  as  many  people 
have  erroneously  supposed,  "ironclads,"  or  armored  battle 
ships.  Except  the  armor  four  inches  thick  around  the 
turret  guns  of  the  Olympia,  there  was  no  armor  in  the 
squadron.  These  six  cruisers  may  be  briefly  summed  up 
as  follows  :  — 

The  5,800-ton  Olympia,  carrying  four  8-inch  and  ten 
rapid-fire  5-inch  guns  and  fourteen  6-pounders,  with  Lieu 
tenant  C.  P.  Rees  as  executive  officer. 

The  4,400-ton  Baltimore,  four  8-inch  and  six  6-inch  rifles 
and  two  6-pounders,  with  Lieutenant-Commander  J.  B. 
Briggs  as  executive  officer. 

The  3,000-ton  Boston,  carrying  two  8-inch  and  six  6-inch 
rifles  and  two  6-pounders,  with  Lieutenant-Commander  J. 
A.  Norris  as  executive  officer. 


230  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

The  3,200-ton  Ealeigh,  carrying  one  6-inch  and  ten  rapid- 
fire  5-inch  guns,  with  Lieutenant-Commander  Frederic 
Singer  as  executive  officer. 

The  1,700-ton  Concord,  carrying  six  6-inch  rifles  and  two 
6-pounders,  with  Lieutenant-Commander  G.  P.  Colvocoresses 
as  executive  officer. 

The  900-ton  Petrel,  carrying  four  6-inch  rifles,  with  Lieu 
tenant  E.  M.  Hughes  as  executive  officer. 

The  total  number  of  officers  and  men  in  the  squadron 
was  1,695.  There  were,  of  course,  some  vacancies  in  the 
ship's  companies,  but  just  before  sailing  for  Manila  the 
Commodore  brought  one  hundred  men  and  several  officers 
from  the  obsolete  Monocacy  and  filled  up  the  complements 
of  his  active  ships. 

Accompanying  the  squadron  was  the  revenue  cutter 
Hugh  McCulloch,  which  had  arrived  at  Hong-Kong  on  her 
way  from  New  York  to  the  Pacific  coast.  She  carried  four 
light  pieces,  and  was  commanded  by  Captain  Hodgsdon,  of 
the  Revenue  Marine  Service,  who  was  ordered  by  the  Sec 
retary  of  the  Treasury  to  report  to  Commodore  Dewey  for 
duty  as  a  dispatch  vessel  or  for  any  other  service  that  she 
might  be  found  capable  to  perform. 

Two  merchant  steamers,  the  Nanshan,  laden  with  3,000 
tons  of  Cardiff  coal,  and  the  Zafiro,  carrying  7,000  tons 
of  similar  coal,  having  been  bought  by  Commodore  Dewey, 
went  with  the  squadron.  They  were  not  taken  into  the 
navy,  but  were  regarded  merely  as  merchant  vessels 
owned  by  the  United  States.  Their  officers  and  crews  all 
gave  notice  of  their  intention  to  become  United  States  citizens, 
and  remained  on  board  to  navigate  the  vessels  as  needed. 


THE   BATTLE   OF  MANILA  BAY  231 

Commodore  Dewey  withdrew  from  the  harbor  of  Hong- 
Kong  on  Monday,  April  25,  in  response  to  a  request 
from  the  Acting  Governor  of  Hong-Kong.  The  Commo 
dore  remained  at  Mirs  Bay,  in  Chinese  waters,  about 
thirty  miles  from  Hong-Kong,  until  the  afternoon  of 
Wednesday,  the  27th,  when  he  sailed  for  the  Philip 
pines. 

Owing  to  the  necessity  of  economy  in  the  use  of  coal, 
as  well  as  the  danger  of  driving  into  the  rather  heavy 
sea  that  was  running,  a  speed  of  about  eight  knots  was 
maintained  in  making  the  trip  to  the  Philippines.  Even 
at  this  slow  speed  the  heavily  laden  Nanshan  and  Zafiro 
made  a  decidedly  wet  voyage,  and  the  Petrel  also  pitched 
and  rolled  deeply. 

Gun  drills  and  other  exercises  kept  the  officers  and 
men  occupied  continuously  during  this  run,  and  from  the 
time  the  squadron  left  Mirs  Bay  until  it  came  into  the 
presence  of  the  enemy  there  was  not  an  hour  in  which 
preparations  for  battle  were  not  under  way. 

When  the  tired  ship's  company  had  finished  its  day's 
work  on  Wednesday,  and  the  Olympia  had  settled  down 
to  the  quiet  of  the  first  watch,  the  stillness  was  broken 
with  abrupt  harshness  by  the  blare  of  the  bugle,  red  and 
white  lights  flashed  up  and  down  the  masts  of  all  the 
ships  in  response  to  the  Commodore's  peremptory  signal, 
"Prepare  for  action,"  and  in  two  minutes  each  vessel 
was  alive  with  men,  who  only  a  few  minutes  before  had 
been  sleeping  soundly. 

From  the  bridge  of  the  flagship  sharply  uttered  orders 
proceeded,  and  in  seven  minutes  the  executive  officer 


232  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

was  able  to  report  to  Captain  Gridley :  "  The  ship  is 
ready  for  action,  sir." 

Looking  back  along  the  line  of  ships,  dimly  visible 
in  the  moonlight,  it  was  easy  to  see  that  every  one  of 
them  was  stripped  for  battle  also,  and  the  Commodore 
was  naturally  greatly  pleased  with  the  quick  and  thor 
ough  response  to  his  signal. 

When  the  squadron  left  Mirs  Bay  no  official  notice 
that  war  existed  had  been  received  from  Washington, 
but  private  cable  messages  of  Tuesday  had  brought  the 
news  that  Congress  had  declared  war  upon  Spain,  to 
date  from  April  21.  Accordingly,  at  the  usual  "quarters 
for  inspection,"  Wednesday  evening,  the  division  officers 
made  the  announcement  to  the  men  that  war  existed, 
and  the  rousing  cheer  that  went  up  from  every  division 
showed  that  the  men  regarded  the  long-expected  news 
with  the  keenest  satisfaction. 

A  little  while  later,  when  the  men  read  on  the 
bulletin  board  the  bombastic  proclamation  of  the  gov 
ernor  of  the  Philippine  Islands,  the  roar  of  derisive 
laughter  that  went  up  from  the  whole  berth  deck  was 
an  indication  that  the  men  were  only  anxiously  long 
ing  for  a  chance  to  show  the  new  "Furioso"  what  they 
thought  about  him  and  his  proclamation. 

Bandmaster  Valifuoco  selected  the  music  for  the 
evening  concert  on  Thursday  with  special  reference  to 
rousing  the  patriotism  of  the  "boys  in  blue,"  choosing 
many  of  the  airs  that  were  popular  in  the  North  dur 
ing  the  Civil  War;  but  though  these  were  favorably 
received,  it  was  not  till  the  band  struck  up  "Yankee 


THE   BATTLE   OF   MANILA  BAY 


233 


Doodle"  that  the  boys  cheered.  When  the  concert 
closed  with  "  Star-Spangled  Banner/'  the  voices  of  at 
least  fifty  men  took  up  the  words  of  each  verse,  the 
young  apprentices  particularly  being  prominent  in  the 
lead,  and  the  chorus  spread  through  the  ship  from  fore 
castle  to  cabin  with  an  enthusiasm  that  carried  the 
hearts  of  all  on  board. 


THE    MEN    BEHIND   THE    GUNS 


Searchlight  and  night  signal  exercise  took  place  dur 
ing  a  large  part  of  the  first  watch  Thursday  night,  and 
the  progress  made  in  working  both  the  lights  and  the 
signals  was  very  satisfactory. 

Friday  was  passed  without  incident,  except  that  the 
weather  became  very  warm  and  muggy,  and  the  work 


234  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

of  the  men  below  deck,  particularly  in  the  fire  rooms 
and  engine  rooms,  was  exhausting  far  beyond  what  it 
had  been  at  any  previous  time  this  year. 

In  spite  of  the  heat  and  the  rather  heavy  sea,  how 
ever,  the  men  did  their  work  so  thoroughly  that  every 
ship  kept  her  position  with  a  precision  that  I  have 
never  seen  surpassed  even  in  merely  practice  evolutions. 

Land  —  the  Island  of  Luzon  —  was  sighted  early  Sat 
urday  morning,  and  being  now  in  close  proximity  to  the 
enemy  the  whole  squadron  began  its  final  preparations 
for  the  battle  that  every  one  knew  was  near  at  hand. 
Aboard  the  Olympia  and  Baltimore,  and  possibly  some  of 
the  other  ships,  the  sheet  chain  cable  was  "bighted,"  or 
coiled,  around  the  ammunition  hoists  so  as  to  give  them 
considerable  protection.  There  is  little  doubt  that  these 
improvised  shields  would  have  kept  out  many  a  shell  if 
the  Spaniards  had  shot  straight  enough  to  hit  them. 
Nets  of  tough,  pliable  manila  rope,  about  as  thick  as 
one's  little  finger,  were  stretched  beneath  all  the  boats 
and  were  drawn  across  the  front  of  the  wardroom  bulk 
heads.  These  splinter-nets  were  intended  to  prevent  the 
woodwork  from  throwing  deadly  missiles  when  struck  by 
shot  or  shell. 

All  unnecessary  material  was  thrown  overboard,  and 
in  most  of  the  ships  the  men  preferred  to  dispense  with 
many  of  their  usual  comforts  rather  than  to  keep  dan 
gerous  woodwork  in  the  parts  of  the  ships  where  they 
would  have  to  do  their  fighting.  Mess  chests,  mess 
tables,  ditty  boxes,  chairs,  wardroom  bulkheads,  and  a 
vast  quantity  of  other  impedimenta,  went  swimming  also, 


THE   BATTLE   OF  MANILA  BAY 


235 


and  if  the  currents  had  happened  to  take  the  stuff  ashore 
the  Luzon  islanders  would  have  reaped  a  rich  harvest. 
When  a  few  miles  distant  from  Subic  Bay,  a  rather 
deep  opening  in  the  bold  and  rugged  coast,  the  Boston 
and  the  Concord  were  sent  ahead  to  learn  whether  any 
part  of  the  Spanish  squadron  was  hidden  there.  Later 


HOTCHKISS    RAPID-FIRE   GUN 


they  were  reinforced  by  the  Baltimore,  the  three  vessels 
moving  at  a  speed  of  about  fifteen  knots,  while  the  other 
three  remained  with  the  transports  and  steamed  at  only 
six  knots.  In  the  afternoon  the  three  scouting  vessels 
came  back,  having  explored  Subic  Bay  without  find 
ing  any  craft  there  except  a  few  small  sloops  and 
schooners,  which  were  overhauled,  but  not  otherwise 
disturbed. 


236  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Commanding  officers  now  came  over  to  the  flagship, 
all  vessels  lying  motionless  on  an  absolutely  calm  sea. 
When  the  war  council  broke  up  we  soon  learned  that 
the  Commodore  had  told  his  captains  that  he  intended 
to  enter  Manila  Bay  that  night,  largely  because  he  felt 
sure  that  the  Spaniards  would  not  expect  him  until  the 
favorite  reckoning  day  in  Spanish  affairs,  "  manana." 
Then  our  ships  idled  along  at  a  speed  of  about  four 
knots,  not  wishing  to  appear  off  the  entrance  to  Manila 
Bay  too  early. 

The  moon  had  risen,  and  although  it  was  occasion 
ally  obscured  by  light  clouds,  the  night  was  not  one  in 
which  a  squadron  ought  to  have  been  able  to  run 
through  a  well-defended  channel  without  drawing  upon 
herself  a  hot  fire.  Consequently,  at  a  quarter  to  ten 
o'clock,  the  men  were  sent  to  their  guns,  not  by  the 
usual  bugle  call,  but  by  stealthily  whispered  word  of 
mouth. 

Every  man  was  long  since  ready,  and  the  final  steps 
of  battle  clearing  were  completed  in  deathlike  silence  in 
a  very  few  minutes.  Off  to  port  we  could  see  the  sul 
len  "loom  of  the  land,"  where,  for  all  we  knew,  the 
enemy  was  already  watching  our  approach.  Astern  we 
could  dimly  make  out  the  phantom-like  hulls  of  our  con 
sorts.  Not  a  light  was  permitted  to  show  in  any  vessel 
except  one  at  the  very  stern,  which  was  necessary  as  a 
guide  for  the  following  ship,  and  this  one  was  shaded  on 
each  side. 

The  speed  was  increased  to  eight  knots,  and  we 
slipped  past  the  batteries  that  we  believed  existed  on 


THE   BATTLE   OF   MANILA  BAY  237 

the  point  north  of  the  entrance,  without  seeing  anything 
to  lead  us  to  think  we  had  been  seen.  Then  Corregidor 
Island  came  abeam,  and  every  glass  was  turned  on  its 
frowning  front ;  but  not  until  we  had  swung  into  the 
chief  channel  —  Boca  Grande,  as  it  is  called  —  did  the  look 
outs  of  Corregidor  catch  sight  of  us. 

Then  a  bright  light  flashed  up  in  the  centre  of  the 
island,  and  it  was  answered  by  a  similar  one  on  the 
north  shore.  At  last  a  rather  feeble  rocket  staggered 
aloft  over  Corregidor,  and  we  felt  sure  we  should  soon 
hear  from  their  guns.  But  no ;  on  we  went,  deeper  and 
deeper  into  the  bay,  and  still  no  hostile  move  was  made. 

Not  until  most  of  the  squadron  had  passed  the  nar 
rowest  part  of  the  entrance  did  a  gun  greet  us. 

Shortly  after  eleven  o'clock  a  bright  flash  on  our 
port-quarter  was  followed  by  the  boom  of  a  heavy  gun, 
and  simultaneously  we  heard  the  vindictive  whistle  of  a 
shot  far  over  our  heads. 

The  first  hostile  shot  had  been  fired  and  the  fight 
was  on. 

The  battery  whence  this  shot  had  come  was  too  far 
astern  to  receive  any  return  fire  from  the  Olympia,  but 
the  Commodore  was  somewhat  uneasy  about  the  three 
noncombatant  ships.  He,  therefore,  signaled  to  the  Mc- 
Culloch  to  take  position  on  the  flagship's  port-quarter,  as 
in  that  place  she  and  the  two  that  were  following  her 
would  be  less  exposed  to  attack. 

A  few  minutes  later  the  McCulloch  signaled  that  her 
chief  engineer  had  been  taken  with  a  stroke  of  heat  pros 
tration,  and  medical  consultation  was  asked  for.  Chief- 


238  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Engineer  Randall  died  twenty  minutes  after,  and  his  was 
the  only  life  lost  in  the  operation  before  Manila. 

The  Raleigh,  which  was  steaming  along  third  in  line, 
had  the  honor  of  firing  the  first  shot  in  anger  on  our  side. 
One  of  her  5-inch  guns  returned  a  ready  response  to  the 
Spaniards'  tardy  salutation,  and  presently  the  Boston  fol 
lowed  suit.  Then  another  shot  came  from  the  shore  bat 
teries,  and  as  our  ships  were  on  the  close  lookout  for  the 
flash  the  Concord  placed  the  6-inch  shell  so  exactly  over 
the  spot  whence  the  enemy  had  fired  that  we  felt  confi 
dent  of  its  good  results.  We  heard  afterward  that  this 
shell  had  burst  among  the  Spanish  gunners,  killing  sev 
eral,  and  if  this  report  be  true  it  was  a  marvelous  shot. 
At  any  rate,  there  were  no  more  shots  fired  from  shore, 
and  as  the  Commodore  did  not  want  to  waste  time  on 
the  batteries  the  squadron  kept  on  its  course. 

Speed  was  now  reduced  to  less  than  three  knots,  as 
there  was  no  haste.  The  Commodore  wished  to  arrive  off 
Manila  at  the  first  break  of  dawn,  but  not  earlier.  The 
men  were  ordered  to  lie  down  beside  their  guns  to  get 
what  sleep  they  could,  and  the  very  strictest  lookout  was 
kept  for  the  enemy's  ships  and  torpedo  boats. 

At  four  o'clock  coffee  and  hardtack  were  served  to  the 
men,  and  the  officers  were  glad  to  get  the  same  frugal 
provender.  The  lights  of  Manila  had  long  been  in  sight, 
and  Lieutenant  Calkins,  the  navigator,  knew  his  position 
to  a  nicety.  Indeed,  much  of  the  success  of  this  bold 
entry  to  Manila  Bay  by  night  was  due  to  the  skill  and 
judgment  of  the  navigator,  who  continued  his  patient  and 
harassing  labors  all  through  the  battle  with  never-failing 


THE   BATTLE   OF  MANILA  BAY  239 

accuracy  and  success.  It  should  be  remembered  that  nav 
igating  a  harbor  that  is  well  lighted  and  buoyed  is  not 
always  the  easiest  thing  in  the  world,  and  in  this  case 
Lieutenant  Calkins  had  no  lights  or  range  marks  to  guide 
him.  I  am  informed  that  special  mention  of  this  officer  was 
made  in  the  official  dispatches,  and  he  certainly  deserved  it. 
The  dawn  began  about  half-past  four  o'clock,  when  we 
were  almost  six  miles  from  Manila.  As  the  sun  came  up 


THE  FLAG  OF  CAVITE.     CAPTURED  BY  THE  AMERICANS 

exactly  behind  the  city,  the  shadow  cast  by  the  land  ob 
scured  the  harbor  foreground.  Finally  we  made  out  the 
presence  of  a  group  of  vessels  in  the  port,  but  before  five 
o'clock  we  were  able  to  recognize  them  as  merchant  ships. 
Our  cruisers  were  now  in  close  battle  order,  the  flag 
ship  leading,  followed  by  the  Baltimore,  the  Raleigh,  the 
Petrel,  the  Concord,  and  the  Boston.  We  had  passed  to  the 
northward  of  Manila,  and  were  holding  to  the  south,  when 
we  sighted  the  Spanish  squadron  in  the  little  bay  of  Ca- 
vite  (pronounced  "Kahveetay"  if  you  please,  with  a  marked 


240  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

accent  on  the  vee).  At  this  point  we  knew  the  Spaniards 
had  a  well-equipped  navy  yard,  which  they  called  Cavite 
Arsenal.  The  officer  in  command  of  this  arsenal,  Rear- 
Admiral  Patricio  Montojo  Pasaron,  was  also  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  squadron,  the  second  in  rank  being 
Commandante  General  Enrique  Soston  y  Ordennes,  a  cap 
tain  in  the  navy. 

Following  is  a  list  and  brief  summary  of  the  import 
ant  characteristics  of  the  vessels  in  Admiral  Montojo's 
command :  - 

Eeina  Christina,  flagship,  Captain  L.  Cadarso  command 
ing,  3,500  tons;  battery,  six  6.2-inch,  two  2.7-inch,  six  6- 
pounders,  and  six  3-pou-nder  rapid-fire  guns;  speed,  17.5 
knots ;  crew,  400  officers  and  men. 

Castillo,,  Captain  A.  M.  de  Oliva,  commanding;  3,334 
tons ;  battery,  four  5.9-inch,  two  4.7-inch,  two  3.3-inch, 
four  2.9-inch,  and  eight  6-pounder  rapid-fire  guns;  speed, 
14  knots ;  crew,  300. 

Isla  de  Cuba,  Captain  J.  Sidrach,  and  Ma  de  Luzon, 
Captain  J.  De  le  Herian  ;  1,030  tons  each ;  battery,  four 
4.7-inch,  four  6-poimder,  and  two  3-pounder  rapid-fire 
guns;  speed,  16  knots;  crew,  200  each. 

Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa,  Captain  E.  Robion,  and  Don  Juan 
de  Austria,  Captain  J.  de  la  Consha  ;  1,130  tons ;  batteries, 
four  4.7-inch,  two  2.7-inch,  and  two  3-pounder  rapid-fire 
guns ;  speed,  14  knots  ;  crew,  200  men  each. 

General  Lezo,  Commander  R.  Benevento,  and  Marques  del 
Duero,  Commander  S.  Morena  Guerra ;  524  and  500  tons,  re 
spectively  ;  batteries,  two  4.7-inch,  and  one  3.5-inch,  and  two 
3-pounder  rapid-fire  guns;  speed,  about  11  knots;  crew,  100. 


THE   BATTLE   OF   MANILA  BAY 


241 


The  Velasco  was  also  in  the  harbor,  but  she  was  under 
going  repairs,  and  her  guns — three  5.9-inch  and  two  2.7- 
inch  rapid-fire  guns — were  mounted  in  earthworks  on 
shore.  There  were  four  torpedo  boats,  two  of  which  were 
sunk  during  the  action,  and  two  fine  transports,  the  Ma 
nila  and  the  Isla  de  Mindanao,  one  of  which  was  captured 
and  the  other  sunk. 


(ttuited 


THE    PRESIDENT'S    FIGHTING    FLAG 


It  will  be  seen  that  the  Spanish  squadron  was  some 
what  inferior  to  the  attacking  fleet.  If  it  had  been 
obliged  to  come  out  into  the  open  sea  to  fight  it  would 
not  have  had  a  ghost  of  a  chance.  But  that  which  gave 
the  Spaniards  an  equalizing  element  was  the  position 
they  had  taken  under  the  protection  of  shore  batteries. 

It  is  estimated  by  all  experts  that  one  gun  mounted 
on  shore  is  worth  several  aboard  ship.  It  has  a  fixed 
platform,  and  is,  therefore,  able  to  fire  with  much  greater 
accuracy. 


D— 10 


242  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Another  great  advantage  our  enemy  had  was  the 
knowledge  of  the  exact  distance  of  our  ships  at  all  times 
daring  the  action.  Having  no  range  marks  to  go  by,  and 
receiving  no  aid  from  the  few  range  finders  installed  in 
our  vessels,  it  was  an  exceedingly  difficult  matter  for  our 
officers  to  determine  the  proper  elevation  to  be  given  to 
our  sights. 

We  were  constantly  moving — sometimes  in  and  some 
times  across  the  lines  of  fire  —  so  that  even  when  a  shot 
was  seen  to  strike  in  the  right  spot  it  was  no  guide  for 
the  next  one.  At  a  distance  of  four  thousand  yards  or 
less  the  Spaniards  ought  not  to  have  missed  one  shot  in 
five,  especially  from  their  shore  batteries,  and  the  fact 
that  we  suffered  so  little  is  the  best  evidence  that  our 
enemies  were  not  capable  of  taking  advantage  of  all  their 
opportunities. 

Five  times  we  made  the  circuit  in  front  of  the  Span 
ish  position,  as  I  have  already  fully  described  in  my 
cable  dispatches.  From  the  bridge  of  the  flagship  I  was 
able  to  watch  every  move  of  our  own  and  the  enemy's 
vessels,  and  seeing  the  storm  of  shells  striking  about  us 
or  bursting  close  aboard  the  ships  of  our  squadron,  we 
had  good  reason  for  fearing  that  our  loss  had  been  heavy. 

Of  course  we  knew  that  the  Olympia  had  escaped  with 
out  casualties,  but  as  we  had  a  dozen  hairbreadth  misses 
it  did  not  seem  possible  that  our  consorts  had  been 
equally  fortunate.  I  began,  at  first,  to  keep  count  of  the 
shells  which  just  barely  cleared  our  hull  or  which  burst 
right  in  our  faces,  for  I  had  an  idea  that  the  fight  would 
not  last  more  than  half  an  hour  at  the  outside,  and  I 


THE   BATTLE   OF   MANILA  BAY 


243 


thought  it  would  be  interesting  to  know  how  many  times 
we  escaped  being  hit,  but  I  got  tired  of  that  very  soon. 
When  a  shell  comes  straight  along  through  the  air 
one  does  not  have  time  to  catch  sight  of  it  till  it  has 
passed,  although  one  has  no  difficulty  in  knowing  that  it 
has  been  trying  to  scrape  an  acquaintance,  as  many  shells 
did.  It  screams  out  its  salutation  only  a  few  feet  away 
from  one's  head.  But  when  it  bursts  in  the  air  before 


MAP   OF    MANILA    BAY 


one's  face  the  air  seems  to  be  full  of  chunks  of  metal, 
some  of  them  apparently  the  size  of  a  washboiler,  and 
then  one  is  liable  to  lose  the  faculty  of  differentiating  be 
tween  the  fragments  and  the  whole  shell. 

So  I  stopped  trying  to  count,  for  fear  I  should  be 
accused  of  exaggeration. 

Another  very  unpleasant  thing  about  the  Spanish 
shells  was  the  way  they  had  of  coming  at  us  even  when 
they  had  not  been  properly  aimed.  Thus  it  often  hap 
pened  that  a  projectile  which  not  only  fell  short,  but 


244  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL   DEWEY 

which  was  not  even  a  good  line  shot,  would  be  "upset" 
by  its  impact  with  the  water,  and  would  come  tumbling, 
end  over  end,  far  out  of  its  original  direction. 

And  how  these  fellows  did  roar,  plainly  visible,  if  they 
came  anywhere  near  us,  and  as  they  rose  from  the  water 
and  spun  around  and  around  they  seemed  to  be  about  the 
size  of  a  barrel,  especially  if  an  observer  happened  to  be 
close  to  the  line  of  their  eccentric  flight. 

When  the  Baltimore  went  in  and  cleared  out  the  shore 
batteries  in  the  second  action,  what  cheers  she  got  from 
the  Olympiads  men,  who  had  been  at  the  front  during  the 
whole  of  the  first  fight !  And  they  yelled  with  glee  again 
when  the  little  Petrel  went  into  the  inner  harbor  and 
finished  off  the  craft  that  still  were  afloat. 

It  was  not  long  then  ere  the  Spanish  flag  was  down 
from  the  arsenal  and  the  white  flag  in  its  place ;  where 
upon,  of  course,  everybody  on  our  side  cheered  again. 
The  affair  was  thus  all  finished  between  five  o'clock 
and  half-past  twelve.  Commodore  Dewey  took  the  squad 
ron  back  to  an  anchorage  off  Manila  and  sent  word  to 
the  foolish  braggart  of  a  governor  that  if  one  shot 
were  fired  at  our  squadron  from  the  Manila  batteries 
he  would  lay  the  city  in  ashes. 

Up  to  the  time  I  left  Manila  Bay  in  the  dispatch 
boat  McCulloch,  the  governor  was  carefully  refraining 
from  doing  anything  to  displease  the  Commodore. 

The  submarine  cable  to  Hong-Kong  was  cut  by  the 
steamer  Zafiro  on  the  day  after  the  action,  because  the 
governor  would  not  permit  the  cable  operators  to  trans 
mit  our  messages. 


THE   BATTLE   OF   MANILA  BAY  245 

The  next  morning  the  Baltimore  and  the  Raleigh  went 
down  the  bay  and  destroyed  six  batteries  at  the  en 
trance.  The  Spanish  garrison  did  not  find  it  convenient 
to  be  "at  home"  when  this  was  done,  and  therefore 
there  was  no  "hard  feeling"  created  at  the  time. 

On  Monday,  also,  we  took  possession  of  the  arsenal, 
as  I  cabled  you  as  soon  as  I  reached  Hong-Kong,  and 
the  active  events  for  the  time  being  were  wound  up 
by  the  burial  of  the  Spanish  dead  and  the  transfer  to 
Manila  of  the  Spanish  wounded  to  save  them  from  the 
swarms  of  native  "looters"  who  had  been  informed  of 
the  Spanish  defeat  by  the  burning  war-ships  in  Cavite 
Bay. 

Thursday  the  McCulloch  sailed  for  Hong-Kong,  and  so 
ended  the  first  chapter  of  the  Manila  campaign. 


CHAPTER   IX 
THE  ADMIRAL'S  OWN  STORY 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BATTLE  AS  WRITTEN  BY  GEORGE  DEWEY 
HIMSELF-BATTLE  WAS  HARD  FOUGHT— LESSONS  FROM 
THE  VICTORY -THE  ENGAGEMENT  AS  VIEWED  BY  UNITED 
STATES  CONSUL  WILLIAMS  AT  MANILA 

HE  newspaper  reports  of  the  Battle 
of  Manila  were  both  sensational 
and  apparently  accurate ;  yet 
thousands  of  the  American  peo 
ple  could  hardly  believe  such  a 
complete  victory,  with  so  in 
significant  a  loss  to  the  American 
fleet,  possible,  and  the  official  re 
port  of  Rear- Admiral  Dewey  was 
awaited  with  unusual  interest. 
At  last  it  came,  greatly  to  the  relief  of  an  anxious 
people  and  of  the  officials  at  Washington.  We  give  the 
report  in  full:- 

(246) 


THE   ADMIRAL'S   OWN   STORY  247 

FLAGSHIP  OLYMPIA,  MAY  4,  1898. 

.  .  .  The  squadron  left  Mirs  Bay  on  April  27.  ... 
Arrived  off  Bolinao  on  the  morning  of  April  30,  and  find 
ing  no  vessels  there,  proceeded  down  the  coast  and  ar 
rived  off  the  entrance  to  Manila  Bay  on  the  same  after 
noon.  The  Boston  and  Concord  were  sent  to  reconnoitre 
Port  Subic.  ...  A  thorough  search  of  the  port  was 
made  by  the  Boston  and  the  Concord,  but  the  Spanish  fleet 
was  not  found.  .  .  . 

Entered  the  south  channel  at  11:30  P.  M.,  steaming  in 
column  at  eight  knots.  After  half  the  squadron  had  passed, 
a  battery  on  the  south  side  of  the  channel  opened  fire, 
none  of  the  shots  taking  effect.  The  Boston  and  McCulloch 
returned  the  fire. 

The  squadron  proceeded  across  the  bay  at  slow  speed 
and  arrived  off  Manila  at  daybreak  and  was  fired  upon 
at  5:15  A.M.,  by  three  batteries  at  Manila  and  two  near 
Cavite,  and  by  the  Spanish  fleet  anchored  in  an  approxi 
mately  east  and  west  line  across  the  mouth  of  Baker 
Bay,  with  their  left  in  shoal  water  in  Canacao  Bay. 

The  squadron  then  proceeded  to  the  attack,  the  flag 
ship  Olympia,  under  my  personal  direction,  leading,  fol 
lowed  at  distance  by  the  Baltimore,  Raleigh,  Petrel,  Concord, 
and  Boston,  in  the  order  named,  which  formation  was 
maintained  throughout  the  action. 

The  squadron  opened  fire  at  5:41  A.  M.  While  advanc 
ing  to  the  attack,  two  mines  were  exploded  ahead  of  the 
flagship,  too  far  to  be  effective.  The  squadron  maintained 
a  continuous  and  precise  fire,  at  ranges  varying  from  5,000 
to  2,000  yards,  countermarching  in  a  line  approximately 


248  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

parallel  to  that  of  the  Spanish  fleet.  The  enemy's  fire 
was  vigorous  but  generally  ineffective. 

Early  in  the  engagement  two  launches  came  out  toward 
the  Olympia  with  the  apparent  intention  of  sinking  torpe 
does.  One  was  sunk  and  the  other  disabled  by  our  fire 
and  beached,  before  an  opportunity  occurred  to  fire  tor 
pedoes. 

At  7  A.  M.  the  Spanish  flagship  Eeina  Christina  made 
a  desperate  attempt  to  leave  the  line  and  come  out  to 
engage  at  short  range,  but  was  received  with  such  gall 
ing  fire,  the  entire  battery  of  the  Olympia  being  concen 
trated  upon  her,  that  she  was  barely  able  to  return  to 
the  shelter  of  the  point. 

The  fires  started  in  her  by  our  shells  at  this  time  were 
not  extinguished  until  she  sank.  .  .  .  The  three  bat 
teries  at  Manila  had  kept  up  a  continuous  report  from 
the  beginning  of  the  engagement,  which  fire  was  not  re 
turned  by  this  squadron.  The  first  of  these  batteries  was 
situated  on  the  south  mole  head,  at  the  entrance  to  the 
Pasig  River.  The  second  on  the  south  bastion  of  the 
walled  city  of  Manila  and  the  third  at  Malate,  about  one- 
half  mile  further  south. 

At  this  point  I  sent  a  message  to  the  Governor-General 
to  the  effect  that  if  the  batteries  did  not  cease  firing  the 
city  would  be  shelled.  This  had  the  effect  of  silencing 
them. 

At  7:35  A.M.  I  ceased  firing  and  withdrew  the  squad 
ron  for  breakfast.  At  11:16  A.M.  returned  to  the  attack. 
By  this  time  the  Spanish  flagship  and  almost  the  entire 
Spanish  fleet  were  in  flames.  At  12:30  P.M.  the  squadron 


THE  ADMIRAL'S  OWN   STORY  251 

ceased  firing,  the  batteries  being  silenced  and  the  ships 
sunk,  burnt,  and  deserted.  At  12:40  P.  M.  the  squad 
ron  returned  and  anchored  off  Manila,  the  Petrel  being 
left  behind  to  complete  the  destruction  of  the  smaller 
gunboats,  which  were  behind  the  point  of  Cavite. 

This  duty  was  performed  by  Commander  E.  P.  Wood, 
in  the  most  expeditious  and  complete  manner  possible. 
The  Spanish  lost  the  following  vessels:  Sunk — Eeina 
Christina,  Cast  ilia  t  Don  Antonio  de  TJlloa ;  burned — Don 
Juan  de  Austria,  Isla  de  Luzon,  Isla  de  Cuba,  General  Lezo, 
Marques  del  Duero,  El  Correo,  Velasco,  and  Isla  de  Mindanao 
(transport) ;  captured  —  Eapido  and  Hercules  (tugs)  and  sev 
eral  small  launches. 

I  am  unable  to  obtain  complete  accounts  of  the 
enemy's  killed  and  wounded,  but  believe  their  losses  to 
be  very  heavy.  The  Eeina  Christina  alone  had  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  killed,  including  the  captain,  and  ninety 
wounded.  I  am  happy  to  report  that  the  damage  done 
to  the  squadron  under  my  command  was  inconsiderable. 
There  were  none  killed  and  only  seven  men  in  the  squad 
ron  slightly  wounded.  .  .  . 

Several  of  the  vessels  were  struck  and  even  penetrated, 
but  the  damage  was  of  the  lightest,  and  the  squadron  is 
in  as  good  condition  now  as  before  the  battle. 

I  beg  to  state  to  the  department  that  I  doubt  if  any 
commander-in-chief  was  ever  served  by  more  loyal,  effi 
cient,  and  gallant  captains  than  those  of  the  squadron  now 
under  my  command. 

Captain  Frank  Wildes,  commanding  the  Boston,  volun 
teered  to  remain  in  command  of  his  vessel,  although  his 


252  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

relief  arrived  before  leaving  Hong-Kong.  Assistant-Sur 
geon  Kindleberger,  of  the  Olympia,  and  Gunner  J.  C.  Evans, 
of  the  Boston,  also  volunteered  to  remain  after  orders  de 
taching  them  had  arrived. 

The  conduct  of  my  personal  staff  was  excellent.  Com 
mander  B.  P.  Lamberton,  chief-of-staff,  was  a  volunteer  for 
that  position  and  gave  me  most  efficient  aid.  Lieutenant 
Brumby,  flag  lieutenant,  and  Ensign  W.  P.  Scott,  aid,  per 
formed  their  duties  as  signal  officers  in  a  highly  creditable 
manner. 

The  Olympia  being  short  of  officers  for  the  battery, 
Ensign  H.  H.  Caldwell,  flag  secretary,  volunteered  for  and 
was  assigned  to  a  subdivision  of  the  5-inch  battery.  Mr. 
J.  L.  Stickney,  formerly  an  officer  in  the  United  States 
Navy,  and  now  correspondent  for  the  New  York  Herald, 
volunteered  for  duty  as  my  aid,  and  rendered  valuable 
services. 

I  desire  specially  to  mention  the  coolness  of  Lieutenant 
C.  G.  Calkins,  the  navigator  of  the  Olympia,  who  came 
under  my  personal  observation,  being  on  the  bridge  with 
me  throughout  the  entire  action,  and  giving  the  ranges  to 
the  guns  with  an  accuracy  that  was  proven  by  the  excel 
lency  of  the  firing. 

On  May  2,  the  day  following  the  engagement,  the  squad 
ron  again  went  to  Cavite,  where  it  remains.  ...  On 
the  third,  the  military  forces  evacuated  the  Cavite  arsenal 
which  was  taken  possession  of  by  a  landing  party. 

On  the  same  day  the  Raleigh  and  Baltimore  secured  the 
surrender  of  the  batteries  on  Corregidor  Island,  paroling 
the  garrison  and  destroying  the  guns.  On  the  morning  of 


THE   ADMIRAL'S  OWN   STORY  255 

May  4,  the  transport  Manila,  which  had  been  aground  in 
Baker  Bay,  was  towed  off  and  made  a  prize. 

[Signed]  GEORGE  DEWEY. 

To  a  gentleman  who  interviewed  Admiral  George 
Dewey  on  board  the  flagship  Olympia  one  month  after 
the  smoke  of  battle  had  cleared  away,  that  greatest  of 
modern  naval  heroes  gave  his  own  version  of  the  battle 
as  follows :  — 

"This  Battle  of  Manila  Bay  was  fought  in  Hong-Kong 
harbor.  That  is,  the  hard  work  was  done  there ;  the  ex 
ecution  here  was  not  difficult. 

"  With  the  co-operation  of  the  officers  of  the  fleet, 
my  plans  were  carefully  studied  out  there,  and  no  detail 
omitted.  Any  man  who  had  a  suggestion  to  offer  was 
heard,  and  if  it  was  a  good  one  it  was  adopted.  After 
the  indications  of  war  were  so  strong  that  it  appeared 
inevitable,  I  devoted  my  time  and  energies  to  making 
every  preparation  possible. 

"  When  we  left  Hong-Kong  and  anchored  in  Mirs  Bay, 
outside  of  the  neutrality  limits,  I  had  determined  upon 
my  line  of  action.  When  we  left  there,  a  few  days  later, 
we  sailed  away  ready  for  battle,  and  expecting  it  as  soon 
as  we  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Manila. 

"From  that  hour  of  departure  until  we  drew  out  of 
action,  Sunday  morning,  May  1,  after  destroying  the  Span 
ish  squadron,  we  practically  did  not  stop  the  engines  of 
our  ships.  We  came  directly  across  from  the  China  post 
to  that  of  Luzon,  headed  down  toward  the  entrance  of 
Manila  Bay,  reconnoitred  Subic  Bay,  where  it  had  been 
rumored  we  would  find  the  enemy,  made  the  entrance 


256  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

to  Manila,  passed  Corregidor  Island  by  the  south  channel 
in  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  steamed  across  the  bay 
close  to  Manila,  where  at  break  of  day  we  discovered  the 
Spanish  fleet  off  Cavite. 

"  Signaling  to  prepare  for  action  and  follow  the  flag 
ship,  I  gave  orders  to  steam  past  the  enemy  and  engage 
their  ships.  The  result  you  can  see  by  looking  at  the 
sunken  vessels  in  the  harbor. 

"Every  ship  and  every  man  did  his  duty  well,  and  the 
marvel  of  it  all  is  that  not  one  man  on  our  side  was  killed 
or  even  seriously  injured.  The  only  harm  inflicted  on 
the  ships  was  of  a  trivial  nature,  although  the  Span 
iards  kept  up  a  lively  fire  until  their  gun  decks  were  no 
longer  out  of  water  and  they  had  no  men  to  man  the 
guns. 

"  The  Spanish  admiral  and  officers  and  crew  fought 
bravely  and  deserve  credit  for  their  valor;  but  all  their 
vessels  were  either  destroyed  or  sunk,  with  a  loss  of 
several  hundred  killed  and  nearly  as  many  wounded. 

"The  battle  was  fiercely  contested  as  long  as  it  lasted; 
but  the  superiority  of  our  fleet  and  ships,  guns,  men,  and 
marksmanship  soon  won  for  us  the  victory." 

Under  date  of  May  8,  1898,  one  week  after  the  battle, 
Mr.  Henry  Gr.  Ladd,  a  correspondent  of  the  New  York 
Journal,  cabled  from  Hong-Kong  the  following  message, 
which  forms  an  interesting  chapter  in  the  record  of 
events  already  described  :  — 

"Judging  from  comments  cabled  back*  here,  there 
seems  to  be  an  impression  that  the  Battle  of  Manila 
was  not  hard  fought.  There  never  was  a  more  unjust 


THE  ADMIRAL'S  OWN  STORY  257 

mistake.  That  the  Spaniards  were  no  match  for  our 
men  is  true,  but  they  did  their  best,  in  many  cases 
fighting  their  ships  long  past  the  point  where  surrender 
would  have  been  justified.  They  served  their  guns  on 
some  ships  while  the  vessels  were  burning  under  them, 
and  more  than  one  crew  went  down  with  their  ship 
rather  than  abandon  a  hopeless  fight. 

"When  the  American  fleet  began  its  deadly  circling, 
the  Eeina  Christina  steamed  out  alone  to  attack  the 
Olympia.  All  the  Olympiads  battery  was  concentrated  on 
the  opposing  flagship,  and  at  the  close  range  nearly 
every  American  shot  found  its  mark.  In  the  face  of 
this  terrible  fire  the  Eeina  Christina  advanced.  She  hit 
the  Olympia  too.  The  Olympia  was  hit  thirteen  times. 

"Dewey  fought  this  fleet  from  the  roof  of  the  pilot 
house  of  the  Olympia,  and  Captain  Lamberton  stood  be 
side  him.  They  were  entirely  without  protection.  The 
Eeina  Christina's  fire  cut  away  the  forward  rigging  of 
the  Olympia,  and  a  6-inch  shell  shot  away  the  signal 
halyards,  four  feet  above  the  Admiral's  head.  Admiral 
Montojo  showed  just  as  much  bravery.  While  his  flag 
ship  was  advancing  in  the  teeth  of  the  storm  of  iron 
from  the  Olympia  he  stood  on-  the  bridge  of  the  Eeina 
Christina  beside  Captain  Cadarso.  When  the  Eeina  Chris 
tina  turned  to  go  back  an  8-inch  shell  struck  her,  wreck 
ing  her  engines  and  exploding  one  of  her  magazines. 
She  was  a  mass  of  flame  and  in  imminent  danger  of 
total  destruction,  but  the  Spanish  admiral  and  his  captain 
stood  as  calmly  on  the  bridge,  in  the  midst  of  this  hell, 
as  though  their  movement  was  part  of  a  naval  parade. 

D.— 17 


258  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

"An  8-inch  shell  from  the  Olympia  hit  the  bridge, 
fairly  shooting  it  from  under  the  admiral,  and  killing 
Captain  Cadarso. 

"It  was  not  until  then  that  Montojo  transferred  his 
pennant  to  the  Castilla,  and  on  that  wooden  ship  con 
tinued  the  fight  until  the  Castilla  was  aflame  from  stem 
to  stern. 

"The  fight  made  by  the  Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa  was  even 
more  heroic.  Her  hull  was  riddled,  but  she  fought  to  the 
last,  and  went  down  with  her  flag  still  flying  and  her 
crew  still  aboard.  With  the  Eeina  Christina  gone,  the 
Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa  down,  and  the  Castilla  a  plume  of 
flame,  a  desperate  attempt  was  made  to  destroy  the 
Olympia. 

"Two  torpedo  boats  shot  out  from  the  cover  of  the 
smoke.  It  was  a  move  of  ghastly  daring.  There  was  not 
one  chance  in  a  thousand  that  they  could  avoid  discov 
ery,  and  discovery  was  death.  They  were  within  eight 
hundred  yards  of  the  flagship  when  Dew^ey  signaled  to 
concentrate  all  the  batteries  on  them.  For  an  instant 
the  water  about  the  needle-like  torpedo  boats  danced  and 
dimpled  like  the  surface  of  a  pond  in  a  rainstorm.  Still 
they  came  on,  while  the  big  American  cruiser  flamed 
and  roared  from  every  steel  throat  that  could  be  turned 
toward  her  darting,  dancing  assailants.  An  8-inch  shell 
struck  the  first  one  full  in  the  centre,  exploded,  and  broke 
the  ship  like  a  straw.  Down  went  both  sections,  the  bow 
and  the  stern  pointing  straight  up  as  the  divided  boat  sank 
with  all  on  board.  The  second  had  her  pilot  house  shot 
away.  The  shot  turned  her  head  toward  the  beach,  and, 


THE  ADMIRAL'S  OWN  STORY  261 

either  because  they  could  not  steer  her,  or  because  they 
wanted  her  destroyed  rather  than  permit  her  to  become 
a  prize  to  the  Americans,  her  crew  ran  her  upon  the  beach. 

"When  it  became  obvious  that  the  Spanish  fleet  was 
doomed,  a  final  effort  was  made  to  cripple  the  American 
squadron  by  sinking  our  supply  ships,  the  idea  being  that 
the  Yankees  must  have  more  ammunition  before  they 
could  fight  the  forts.  The  two  transports  lay  far  in  the 
rear,  guarded  only  by  the  revenue  cutter  McCulloch.  A 
small  gunboat  tried  to  reach  the  transports  while  the 
remainder  of  the  fleet  was  at  the  farthest  point  of  the 
circle  from  them.  Dewey,  from  the  Olympiads  pilot  house, 
saw  the  manoeuvre  and  comprehended  its  terrific  import. 
He  signaled,  and  all  the  ships  that  had  free  batteries  in 
range  fired  on  the  Spanish  forlorn  hope.  The  McCulloch 
would  have  been  almost  a  match  for  the  gunboat.  Of 
course,  the  Spanish  vessel  was  driven  back  with  hull  rid 
dled  and  upper  works  shattered.  The  most  picturesque 
feature  of  the  battle  was  the  air  of  unconcern  with  which 
the  Americans  went  through  it. 

"There  were  seven  men  on  the  Boston' 's  bridge  with 
Captain  Wildes.  Seven  shells  passed  over  the  bridge. 
One  passed  not  more  than  two  feet  above  their  heads  and 
burst  beyond  them,  but  so  close  that  the  base  plug  of 
the  projectile  was  driven  back  on  board. 

"During  all  this  time  Captain  Wildes  stood  with  his 
glasses  in  one  hand,  a  palm-leaf  fan  in  the  other,  and  a 
cigar  between  his  lips. 

"Paymaster  Martin  made  and  served  coffee  during  the 
whole  engagement. 


262  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

"  The  little  Petrel  is  the  proudest  ship  of  the  fleet. 
They  have  christened  her  the  '  little  battleship/  Her  light 
draught  enabled  her  to  get  close  to  the  forts  and  the 
navy  yard,  and  Captain  Woods  ran  her  fearlessly  into  the 
worst  of  it.  The  wonder  is  that  she  escaped  unscathed. 

"When  -the  Baltimore  was  sent  to  lead  the  second 
attack  she  came  nearer  to  destruction  than  any  vessel  of 
the  fleet.  Her  orders  were  to  silence  the  shore  batteries. 
She  went  ahead  at  fall  speed,  directly  across  the  bay. 
Her  speed  saved  her,  for  she  passed  over  two  mines. 

"Just  beyond  her  two  mountains  of  water  rose  and 
burst,  one  on  either  side. 

"The  mines  exploded  within  one  hundred  yards  of  her. 
She  was  not  damaged,  but  the  waves  from  the  explosions 
chased  her,  and  she  rolled  and  plunged  in  her  onward 
course.  She  missed  total  destruction  by  less  than  three 
seconds. 

"Thirty  minutes  after  the  Baltimore  started  at  the 
head  of  the  line  every  gun  on  shore  and  every  Spanish 
ship,  save  the  Don  Antonio  de  UUoa,  had  been  either  sunk, 
or  burned,  or  had  retreated  behind  the  arsenal. 

"The  Don  Antonio  de  UUoa,  with  all  her  upper  works 
shot  away  and  her  decks  swept  with  shell  at  every  broad 
side  from  the  American  fleet,  kept  on  fighting  doggedly 
with  her  lower  guns.  She  fought  until  she  was  cut  to 
pieces,  and  then  went  down  with  all  her  crew.  The  Petrel, 
Concord,  and  Boston  were  sent  to  destroy  whatever  ships 
were  in  the  navy  yard,  but  the  Boston,  after  twice  running 
aground,  left  this  work  to  her  lighter  draught  companions. 
After  this  work  had  been  done,  only  the  transport  Manila 


THE   ADMIRAL'S  OWN  STORY  265 

remained  above  water.  All  the  others  that  had  not  been 
destroyed  by  the  Americans  had  been  burned  by  their  crews. 

"  The  Olympia  was  hit  thirteen  times,  eight  of  the  shots 
touching  her  hull,  but  doing  no  damage.  Two  shells  of  the 
eight  that  hit  the  Baltimore  pierced  her  hull.  Six  of  the 
Baltimore's  crew  were  slightly  injured  by  the  explosion  of 
a  shell  on  her  deck,  but  were  not  so  seriously  injured  as 
to  quit  fighting  until  the  engagement  was  over.  Five 
million  dollars  would  not  pay  the  Spanish  loss  on  ships 
and  forts.  At  least  four  hundred  Spaniards  were  killed 
and  wounded." 

To  a  correspondent,  who  asked  for  his  ideas  of  the 
lessons  to  be  learned  from  the  victory  of  May  1,  Ad 
miral  Dewey  replied :  - 

"The  first  lesson  of  the  battle  teaches  the  importance 
of  American  gunnery  and  good  guns. 

"It  confirms  my  early  experiences  under  Admiral  Far- 
ragut,  that  combats  are  decided  more  by  skill  in  gunnery 
and  the  quality  of  the  guns  than  by  all  else. 

"Torpedoes  and  other  appliances  are  good  in  their 
way,  but  are  entirely  of  secondary  importance. 

"  The  Spaniards,  with  their  combined  fleet  and  forts, 
were  equal  to  us  in  gun  power.  But  they  were  unable  to 
harm  us  because  of  bad  gunnery. 

"Constant  practice  made  our  gunnery  destructive  and 
won  the  victory. 

"The  second  lesson  of  this  battle  is  the  complete  dem 
onstration  of  the  value  of  high-grade  men.  Cheap  men 
are  not  wanted,  are  not  needed,  are  a  loss  to  the  United 
States  Navy. 


266  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

"We  should  have  none  but  the  very  best  men  be 
hind  the  guns.  It  will  not  do  to  have  able  officers 
and  poor  men.  The  men  in  their  class  must  be  the 
equal  of  the  officers  in  theirs.  We  must  have  the  best 
men  filling  all  the  posts  on  shipboard. 

"To  make  the  attainments  of  the  officers  valuable 
we  must  have,  as  we  have  in  this  fleet,  the  best  men 
to  carry  out  their  commands. 

"The  third  lesson,  not  less  important  than  the  others, 
is  the  necessity  for  inspection.  Everything  to  be  used 
in  a  battle  should  have  been  thoroughly  inspected  by 
naval  officials. 

"If  this  is  done  there  will  be  no  failure  at  a  crisis 
in  time  of  danger.  Look  at  the  difference  between  our 
ships  and  the  Spanish  ships. 

"Everything  the  Spaniards  had  was  supplied  by  con 
tract.  Their  shells,  their  powder,  all  their  materials, 
were  practically  worthless,  while  ours  were  perfect." 

REPORT    OF    UNITED    STATES    CONSUL    WILLIAMS 

CONSULATE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  ) 

BAY  OF  MANILA,  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS,  May  4,   1898.  ) 

Sir:  —  I  have  the  honor  to  briefly  report  to  you  con 
cerning  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  fought  on  May  1, 1898:- 

Heeding  your  mandate,  and  by  repeated  request  of 
Commodore  George  Dewey,  of  the  United  States  Asiatic 
squadron,  I  left  Manila  on  Saturday,  April  23,  and  on 
Wednesday,  April  27,  at  about  1  P.  M.,  boarded  the  flag 
ship  Olympia,  in  Mirs  Bay,  near  Hong-Kong.  After  meet 
ing  the  Commodore  and  his  captains  and  commanders 


THE   ADMIRAL'S   OWN   STORY  269 

in  council,  the  Commodore  at  once  ordered  his  fleet  to 
start  at  2  P.  M.  for  Manila  Bay. 

On  Saturday,  April  30,  Subig  Bay  was  reconnoitred 
because  of  reported  hiding  of  Spanish  fleet  in  its  inner 
harbor,  but  no  fleet  being  there  found  the  Commodore 
proceeded  at  once  to  the  south  channel  entrance  to  Ma 
nila  Bay,  and  while  by  many  reports  mines,  torpedoes, 
and  land  defenses  obstructed  entrance,  yet  the  flagship 
led  the  van,  and  between  10  P.  M.,  April  30,  and  2  A.  M., 
May  1,  our  fleet  of  six  war-ships,  one  dispatch  boat,  and 
two  coal-laden  transports  passed  all  channel  dangers  un 
harmed,  despite  shots  from  forts,  and  at  2  A.  M.  were  all 
safe  on  the  broad  expanse  of  Manila  Bay. 

After  my  departure,  April  23,  and  by  drawing  fire  to 
save  Manila,  if  possible,  all  Spanish  war-ships  went  to 
their  strongly  fortified  naval  station  at  Cavite,  where  the 
inner  harbor  gave  refuge,  and  where  potential  support 
could  be  had  from  several  forts  and  well-equipped  batteries 
which  extended  several  miles  right  and  left  from  Port  Cavite. 

At  about  5:30  A.  M.,  Sunday,  May  1,  the  Spanish  guns 
opened  fire  at  both  the  Mapila  breakwater  battery  and  at 
Cavite,  from  fleet  and  forts. 

With  magnificent  coolness  and  order,  but  with  the 
greatest  promptness,  our  fleet,  in  battle  array,  headed  by 
the  flagship,  answered  the  Spanish  attack,  and  for  about 
two  and  a  half  hours  a  most  terrific  fire  ensued. 

The  method  of  our  operations  could  not  have  shown 
greater  system,  our  guns  greater  effectiveness,  or  our 
officers  and  crews  greater  bravery ;  and  while  Spanish 
resistance  was  stubborn  and  the  bravery  of  the  Spanish 


270  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

forces  such  as  to  challenge  admiration,  yet  they  were  out 
classed,  weighed  in  the  balance  of  war  against  the  meth 
ods,  training,  aim,  and  bravery  shown  on  our  decks,  and 
after  less  than  three  hours'  perilous  and  intense  combat 
one  of  Spain's  war-ships  was  sinking,  two  others  were 
burning,  and  all  others,  with  land  defenses,  had  severely 
suffered,  when  our  squadron,  with  no  harm  done  its  ships, 
retired  for  breakfast. 

At  about  10  A.  M.,  Commodore  Dewey  renewed  the 
battle,  and  with  effects  most  fatal  with  each  evolution. 

No  better  evidence  of  Spanish  bravery  need  be  sought 
than  that,  after  the  castigation  of  our  first  engagement, 
her  ships  and  forts  should  again  answer  our  fire.  But 
Spanish  efforts  were  futile.  Ship  after  ship  and  battery 
after  battery  went  to  destruction  before  the  onslaught  of 
American  energy  and  training,  and  an  hour  and  a  half 
of  our  second  engagement  wrought  the  annihilation  of 
the  Spanish  fleet  and  forts,  with  several  hundred  Span 
iards  killed  and  wounded,  and  millions  in  value  of  their 
government's  property  destroyed.  While  amazing,  almost 
unbelievable,  as  it  seems,  not  a  ship  or  gun  of  our  fleet 
had  been  disabled,  and,  except  on  the  Baltimore,  not  a 
man  had  been  hurt. 

One  of  the  crew  of  the  Baltimore  had  a  leg  fractured 
by  slipping;  another  was  hurt  in  the  ankle  in  a  similar 
manner,  while  four  received  slight  flesh  wounds  from 
splinters  thrown  by  a  6-inch  projectile,  which  pierced  the 
starboard  side  of  the  cruiser. 

But  in  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay  the  United  States 
squadron  of  six  war-ships  totally  destroyed  the  Spanish 


T1IK   ADMIRAL'S  OWN    STOKY 


271 


fleet    of   eight    war-ships,    many    forts    and    batteries,    and 
accomplished  this  work  without  the  loss  of  a  man! 

History  has  only  contrasts.  There  is  no  couplet  to 
form  a  comparison.  The  only  finish  tight  between  the  mod 
ern  war-ships  of  civilized  nations  has  proven  the  prowess 
of  American  naval  men  and  methods,  and  the  glory  is  a 
legacy  for  the  whole  people.  Our  crews  are  all  hoarse 


CONCORD,    U.  S.  N. 


from  cheering,  and  while  we  suffer  for  cough  drops  and 
throat  doctors,  we  have  no  use  for  liniment  or  sur 
geons. 

To  every  ship,  officer,  and  crew,  all  praise  be  given.  As 
Victoria  was  answered  years  ago,  "Your  Majesty,  there  is 
no  second,"  so  may  I  report  to  your  department  as  to  our 
war-ships  conquering  the  Spanish  fleet  in  the  Battle  of 
Manila  Hay --there  is  no  first—  "there  is  no  second."  Tile 


272  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

cool  bravery  and  efficiency  of  the  Commodore  was  echoed 
by  every  captain  and  commander  and  down  through  the 
lines  by  every  officer  and  man,  and  naval  history  of  the 
dawning  century  will  be  rich  if  it  furnish  to  the  world 
so  glorious  a  display  of  intelligent  command  and  success 
ful  service  as  must  be  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  United 
States  Asiatic  squadron  under  date  of  May  1,  1898. 

It  was  my  lot  to  stand  on  the  bridge  of  the  Baltimore 
by  the  side  of  Captain  Dyer  during  the  first  engagement, 
and  to  be  called  to  the  flagship  Olympia  by  the  Commo 
dore,  at  whose  side,  on  the  bridge,  I  stood  during  the  sec 
ond  engagement ;  and  when  the  clouds  roll  by  and  I  have 
again  a  settled  habitation,  it  will  be  my  honor  and  pleas 
ure  to  transmit  a  report  showing  service  somewhat  in  de 
tail  and  for  which  commanders  promise  data. 

Meanwhile,  our  Commodore  will  officially  inform  you 
of  events  which  will  rival  in  American  history  the  ex 
ploits  of  Paul  Jones. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

OSCAR  F.  WILLIAMS, 

United  States  Consul,  Manila,  Philippine  Islands. 
HONORABLE  JUDGE  DAY, 

Assistant  Secretary  of  State,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  accounts  here  given  of  the  Battle  of  Manila  testify 
not  only  to  the  heroism  of  the  combatants,  both  Spanish 
and  American,  but  to  the  modesty  of  the  American  com 
manders.  The  following  chapter  relates  the  story  of  the 
battle  as  it  appeared  from  the  blood-stained  decks  of 
the  Eeina  Christina  and  other  Spanish  vessels. 


CHAPTER   X 
MONTOJO'S  VERSION  OF  THE  BATTLE 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  MANILA  AS  TOLD  BY  THE 
DEFEATED  SPANISH  ADMIRAL  — AN  ACCOUNT  FROM  A 
SPANISH  NEWSPAPER 

NDER  date  of  April  24,  1898,  the 
Spanish  admiral  in  the  Philip 
pine  waters,  who  was  also  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  station 
and  squadron  of  the  Philippines, 
issued  the  following  order  to  the 
commandant  of  the  arsenal  at 
Cavite :  - 

It  having  been  resolved  to  go 
(Bate  11  out  with  the  squadron  for  the  port 
of  Subic,  not  only  for  the  defense  of  that  important 
port  but  also  as  a  strategic  harbor  for  operations  which 
may  occur,  the  staff  is  placed  in  charge  of  the  necessary 
orders  from  these  headquarters. 

D-18  (273) 


274 


LIFE   OF   ADMIRAL   DEWEY 


As  commandant 
of  the  Cavite  arsenal 
I  have  nothing  to 
say  to  your  excel 
lency  concerning  its 
defense,  as  the  chief 
commander  and  offi 
cers  will  know  how 
to  defend  the  inter 
ests  of  the  nation, 
trusting  the  valor, 
zeal,  and  intelligence 
of  all  those  who,  with 
the  slight  and  feeble 
resources  upon  which 
we  can  count,  will 
do  everything  pos 
sible  to  guard  the  honor  of  the  flag  and  the  navy. 

Go  on,  sir,  in  the  ordering  and  equipping  as  much  as 
you  think  necessary  for  the  common  purposes  which  con 
cern  our  interests. 

You  will  use  the  telegraph  to  report  to  me  all  that 
you  think  important  for  your  affairs  in  all  departments, 
as  well  as  the  cable  to  communicate  with  the  government. 
As  long  as  possible  communicate  by  way  of  Paranaque 
and  Malate  and  also  with  the  batteries  of  the  coast  by 
signals  as  well  as  by  boats. 

If  you  need  merchant  vessels  to  equip  with  torpedo 
tubes,  which  may  be  effective  in  such  vessels,  you  will 
also  equip  them,  etc.  MONTOJO. 


ADMIRAL     PATRICIO     MONTOJO     PASARON 


MONTOJO'S  VERSION  OF  THE  BATTLE         277 


One  week  later  Ad 
miral  Montojo  came  in 
contact  with  Commo 
dore  George  Dewey  and 
his  victorious  fleet.  The 
story  of  this  last  meet 
ing,  as  viewed  by  the 
defeated  admiral  him 
self,  is  best  told  in  his 
own  words  to  his  gov 
ernment  at  Madrid  :  — 

"  On  the  twenty-fifth 
of  April,  1898,  at  11 
P.  M.,"  says  Senor  Mon 
tojo,  "I  left  the  bay  of 
Manila  for  Subic  with 


D.  RAMON  DEAUNON,  SPAIN'S  SECRETARY  OF  THE  NAVY 


DUQUE  DE  ALMODOVAR 


a  squadron  composed 
of  the  cruisers  Reina 
Christina,  Von  Juan  de 
Austria,  Isla  de  Cuba, 
Isla  de  Luzon,  dispatch 
boat  Marques  del  Ditero, 
and  the  wooden  cruiser 
CastiUa.  This  last  could 
merely  be  considered 
as  a  floating  battery, 
incapable  of  manoeu 
vring,  on  account  of  the 
bad  condition  of  her 


278 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


hull.  The  following  morning,  being  at  Subic,  I  had  a 
conference  with  Captain  Del  Rio,  who,  though  he  did  not 
relieve  my  anxiety  respecting  the  completion  of  the  de 
fensive  works,  assured  me  that  they  wrould  soon  be  finished. 
"In  the  meanwhile  the  cruiser  Castilla,  even  on  this 
short  cruise,  was  making  much  water  through  the  bear 
ings  of  the  propeller  and  the  opening  astern.  They 


ISLA    DE   CUBA    (AFTER    DECK) 

worked  day  and  night  to  stop  these  leaks  with  cement, 
finally  making  the  vessel  nearly  water-tight,  but  abso 
lutely  impossible  to  use  her  engines. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  twenty-seventh  I  sailed  with 
the  vessels  to  cover  the  entrance  to  the  port  of  Subic. 
The  Castilla  was  taken  to  the  northeast  point  of  the 
island  of  Grande  to  defend  the  western  entrance,  since 


MONTOJO'S  VERSION  OF  THE  BATTLE 


281 


the  eastern  en 
trance  had  al- 
ready  been 
closed  with  the 
hulls  of  the  San 
Quintin  and  two 
old  merchant 
vessels  which 
were  sunk  there. 

"With  much 
disgust,  I  found 
that  the  guns 
which  should 
have  been 
mounted  on 
that  island 
were  delayed  a 
month  and  a 
half.  This  surprised  me,  as  the  shore  batteries  that  the 
navy  had  installed  (with  very  little  difficulty)  at  the 
entrance  to  the  bay  of  Manila,  under  the  intelligent 
direction  of  colonel  of  naval  artillery,  Sefior  Garces,  and 
Lieutenant  Beneavente,  were  ready  to  fight  twenty-four 
days  after  the  commencement  of  the  work. 

"I  was  also  no  less  disgusted  that  they  confided  in 
the  efficacy  of  the  few  torpedoes  which  they  had  found 
feasible  to  put  there. 

"  The  entrance  was  not  defended  by  torpedoes  nor  by 
the  batteries  of  the  island,  so  that  the  squadron  would 
have  had  to  bear  the  attack  of  the  Americans  with  its 


SENOR  PRAXEDES  MATEO  SAGASTA 


282 


LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


own  resources,  in  forty  meters  of  water  and  with  little 
security.  Our  vessels  could  not  only  be  destroyed,  but 
they  could  not  save  their  crews.  I  still  held  a  hope  that 
the  Americans  would  not  go  to  Subic,  and  so  give  us  time 
for  more  preparations,  but  the  following  day  I  received 


DON    JUAN    DE   AUSTRIA 


from  the  Spanish  consul  at  Hong-Kong  a  telegram  which 
said :  '  Enemy's  squadron  sailed  at  2  P.  M.  from  the 
bay  of  Mirs,  and  according  to  reliable  accounts  they  sailed 
for  Subic  to  destroy  our  squadron,  and  then  will  go  to 
Manila.' 


MONTOJO'S  VERSION  OF  THE  BATTLE         285 

"  This  telegram  demonstrated  that  the  enemy  knew 
where  they  could  find  my  squadron,  and  that  the  port  of 
Subic  had  no  defenses. 

"  The  same  day,  the  twenty-eighth  of  April,  I  convened 
a  council  of  the  captains,  and  all,  with  the  exception  of 
Del  Rio,  chief  of  the  new  arsenal,  thought  that  the  situ 
ation  was  insupportable,  and  that  we  should  go  to  the 
bay  of  Manila  in  order  to  accept  there  the  battle  under 
less  unfavorable  conditions. 

"  I  refused  to  have  our  ships  near  the  city  of  Manila, 
because,  far  from  defending  it,  this  would  provoke  the 
enemy  to  bombard  the  plaza,  which  doubtless  would  have 
been  demolished  on  account  of  its  few  defenses.  It  was 
unanimously  decided  that  we  should  take  position  in  the 
bay  of  Canacao,  in  the  least  water  possible,  in  order  to 
combine  our  fire  with  that  of  the  batteries  of  Point 
Sangley  and  Ulloa. 

"I  immediately  ordered  Del  Rio  to  concentrate  his  forces 
in  the  most  strategic  point  of  the  arsenal,  taking  every 
disposition  to  burn  the  coal  and  stores  before  allowing 
them  to  fall  into  the  power  of  the  enemy.  I  sent  the 
Don  Juan  de  Austria  to  Manila  to  get  a  large  number  of 
lighters  filled  with  sand  to  defend  the  water  line  of  the 
Castillo,  (which  could  not  move)  against  the  enemy's  shells 
and  torpedoes.  At  10  A.  M.,  on  the  twenty-ninth,  I  left 
Subic  with  the  vessels  of  my  squadron,  towing  the  Cas- 
tilla  by  the  transport  Manila. 

"In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  we  anchored  in 
the  gulf  of  Canacao  in  eight  meters  of  water.  On  the 
following  morning  we  anchored  in  line  of  battle,  the 


286 


LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


Christina,  Castillo,,  Don  Juan  de  Austria,  Don  Juan  de  Ulloa, 
Luzon,  Cuba,  and  Marques  del  Duero,  while  the  transport 
Manila  was  sent  to  the  Roads  of  Bacoor,  where  the  Vel- 
asco  and  Lezo  were  undergoing  repairs. 

"At    7    P.  M.  I    received    a    telegram    from    Subic    an- 
nouncing    that    the    enemy's    squadron    had    entered    the 


ISLA    DE    LUZON    (FORWARD    DECK) 

port  at  three,  reconnoitring,  doubtless  seeking  our 
ships,  and  from  there  they  sailed  with  course-  for 
Manila. 

"  The  mail  steamer  Isla  de  Mindanao  arrived  in  the 
bay.  I  advised  her  captain  to  save  his  vessel  by  going 
to  Singapore,  as  the  enemy  could  not  get  into  the  en 
trance  probably  before  midnight.  As  he  was  not  author 
ized  from  the  transatlantic  he  did  not  do  so,  and  then 


MONTOJO'S  VERSION  OF  THE  BATTLE         287 

I  told  him  that  he  could  anchor  in  shallow  water  as 
near  as  possible  to  Bacoor. 

"At  midnight  gun  fire  was  heard  off  Corregidor,  and 
at  two  on  the  morning  of  the  first  of  May  I  received 
telegraphic  advices  that  the  American  vessels  were  throw 
ing  their  search  lights  at  the  batteries  of  the  entrance, 
with  which  they  had  exchanged  several  shots.  I  noti 
fied  the  commanding  general  of  the  arsenal.  Senor  Sos- 
ton,  and  the  general-governor  of  the  plaza,  Captain 
Senor  Garcia  Pana,  that  they  should  prepare  themselves. 
I  directed  all  the  artillery  to  be  loaded,  and  all  the 
sailors  and  soldiers  to  go  to  their  stations  for  battle, 
soon  to  receive  the  enemy. 

"  This  is  all  that  occurred  from  the  time  I  sailed  to 
Subic  until  the  entrance  of  the  American  squadron  in 
the  bay  of  Manila. 

"The  squadron  being  disposed  for  action,"  adds  Senor 
Montojo,  "fires  spread,  and  everything  in  proper  place, 
we  waited  for  the  enemy's  arrival. 

"All  the  vessels  having  been  painted  a  dark  gray 
color,  had  taken  down  their  masts  and  yards  and  boats 
to  avoid  the  effects  of  projectiles  and  the  splinters,  had 
their  anchors  buoyed,  and  cables  ready  to  slip  instantly. 

"At  4  A.  M.  I  made  signal  to  prepare  for  action,  and 
at  4:45  the  Austria  signaled  the  enemy's  squadron,  a  few 
minutes  after  which  they  were  recognized,  with  some  con 
fusion,  in  a  column  parallel  with  ours,  at  about  6,000  me 
ters  distant;  the  flagship  Olympia  ahead,  followed  by  the 
Baltimore,  Raleigh,  Boston,  Concord,  Helena,  Petrel,  and  Me- 
Culloch,  and  the  two  transports  Zafiro  and  Nanshan. 


288  LIFE   OF   ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

"The  force  of  these  vessels,  excepting  transports  that 
were  noncombatant,  amounted  to  21,410  tons,  49,290  horse 
power,  163  guns  (many  of  which  were  rapid-fire),  1,750 
men  in  their  crews,  and  of  an  average  velocity  of  about 
seventeen  miles.  The  power  of  our  only  five  effective 
ships  for  battle  was  represented  by  10,111  tons,  11,200 
horse  power,  76  guns  (very  short  of  rapid-fire),  1,875  crew, 
and  a  maximum  speed  of  twelve  miles. 

"At  five  the  batteries  on  Point  Sangley  opened  fire. 
The  first  two  shots  fell  short  and  to  the  left  of  the  lead 
ing  vessel.  These  shots  were  not  answered  by  the  enemy, 
whose  principal  object  was  the  squadron. 

"This  battery  had  only  two  Ordonez  guns  of  fifteen 
centimetres  mounted,  and  but  one  of  these  could  fire  in 
the  direction  of  the  opposing  fleet. 

"  In  a  few  minutes  one  of  the  batteries  of  Manila  opened 
fire,  and  at  5:15  I  made  signal  that  our  squadron  open 
fire.  The  enemy  answered  immediately.  The  battle  be 
came  general.  We  slipped  the  springs  and  cables  and 
started  ahead  with  the  engines,  so  as  not  to  be  involved 
by  the  enemy. 

"The  Americans  fired  most  rapidly.  There  came  upon 
us  numberless  projectiles,  as  the  three  cruisers  at  the  head 
of  the  line  devoted  themselves  almost  entirely  to  fight  the 
Christina,  my  flagship.  A  short  time  after  the  action  com 
menced  one  shell  exploded  in  the  forecastle  and  put  out 
of  action  all  those  who  served  the  four  rapid-fire  cannon, 
making  splinters  of  the  forward  mast,  which  wounded  the 
helmsman  on  the  bridge,  when  Lieutenant  Jose  Nunez 
took  the  wheel  with  a  coolness  worthy  of  the  greatest 


mi 


MONTOJO'S  VERSION  OF  THE  BATTLE         291 

commendation,  steering  until  the  end  of  the  fight.  In 
the  meanwhile  another  shell  exploded  in  the  orlop,  setting 
fire  to  the  crew's  bags,  which  they  were  fortunately  able 
to  control. 

"The  enemy  shortened  the  distance  between  us,  and, 
rectifying  his  aim,  covered  us  with  a  rain  of  rapid-fire 
projectiles.  At  7:30  one  shell  destroyed  completely  the 
steering  gear.  I  ordered  to  steer  by  hand  while  the 
rudder  was  out  of  action.  In  the  meanwhile  another 
shell  exploded  on  the  poop,  and  put  out  of  action  nine 
men.  Another  destroyed  the  mizzen  masthead,  bringing 
down  the  flag  and  my  ensign,  which  were  replaced 
immediately.  A  fresh  shell  exploded  in  the  officers' 
cabin,  covering  the  hospital  with  blood,  and  destroying 
the  wounded  who  were  being  treated  there.  Another  ex 
ploded  in  the  ammunition  room  astern,  filling  the  quar 
ters  with  smoke  and  preventing  the  working  of  the 
hand  steering  gear.  As  it  was  impossible  to  control  the 
fire,  I  had  to  flood  the  magazine  when  the  cartridges 
were  beginning  to  explode. 

"Amidships  several  shells  of  smaller  calibre  went 
through  the  smokestack,  and  one  of  the  large  ones 
penetrated  the  fireroom,  putting  out  of  action  one  mas 
ter  gunner  and  twelve  men  serving  the  guns.  Another 
rendered  useless  the  starboard  bow  gun.  While  the  fire 
astern  increased,  fire  was  started  forward  by  another 
shell  which  went  through  the  hull  and  exploded  on  the 
deck. 

"  The  broadside  guns  being  undamaged  continued 
firing  until  there  were  only  one  gunner  and  one  seaman 


292  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

remaining  unhurt  for  firing  them,  as  the  guns  crews 
had  been  frequently  called  upon  to  substitute  those 
charged  with  steering,  all  of  whom  were  out  of  action. 

"The  ship  being  out  of  control,  the  hull,  smoke-pipe, 
and  mast  riddled  with  shot;  the  confusion  occasioned  by 
the  cries  of  the  wounded ;  half  of  her  crew  out  of  action, 
among  whom  were  seven  officers,  I  gave  the  order  to 
sink  and  abandon  the  ship  before  the  magazines  should 
explode,  making  signal  at  the  same  time  to  the  Isla  de 
Cuba  and  Isla  de  Luzon  to  assist  in  saving  the  rest  of 
the  crew,  which  they  did,  aided  by  others  from  the 
Marques  del  Duero  and  the  arsenal. 

"I  abandoned  the  Eeina  Christina,  directing  beforehand 
to  secure  her  flag,  and  accompanied  by  my  staff,  and  with 
great  sorrow,  I  hoisted  my  flag  on  the  cruiser  Isla  de 
Cuba. 

"After  many  men  had  been  saved  from  the  unfortunate 
vessel,  one  shell  destroyed  her  heroic  commander,  Don 
Luis  Cadarso,  who  was  directing  the  rescue. 

"The  Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa,  which  also  defended  herself 
firmly,  using  the  only  two  guns  which  were  available,  was 
sunk  by  a  shell  which  entered  the  water  line,  putting  out 
of  action  her  commander  and  half  of  her  remaining  crew. 

"  The  Castilla,  which  fought  heroically,  remained  with 
her  artillery  useless,  except  one  stern  gun,  with  which 
they  fought  spiritedly,  was  riddled  with  shot  and  set  on 
fire  by  the  enemy's  shells,  then  sunk,  and  was  abandoned 
by  her  crew  in  good  order,  which  was  directed  by  her 
commander,  Don  Alonzo  Algado.  The  casualties  on  this 
ship  were  twenty-three  killed  and  eighty  wounded. 


I 


MONTOJO'S  VERSION  OF  THE  BATTLE         295 

"The  Don  Juan  de  Austria,  very  much  damaged  and  on 
fire,  went  to  the  aid  of  the  Castillo,.  The  Isla  de  Luzon 
had  three  guns  dismounted,  and  was  slightly  damaged  in 
the  hull.  The  Marques  del  Duero  remained  with  one  of 
her  engines  useless,  the  bow  gun  of  twelve  centimetres 
and  one  of  the  redoubts. 

"At  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  enemy's  squadron 
having  suspended  its  fire,  I  ordered  the  ships  that  re 
mained  to  us  to  take  positions  in  the  bottom  of  the  Roads 
at  Bacoor,  and  there  to  resist  to  the  last  moment,  and 
that  they  should  be  sunk  before  they  surrendered. 

"At  10:30  the  enemy  returned,  forming  a  circle  to  de 
stroy  the  arsenal  and  the  ships  which  remained  to  me,  open 
ing  upon  them  a  horrible  fire,  which  we  answered  as  far  as 
we  could  with  the  few  cannon  which  we  still  had  mounted. 

"There  remained  the  last  recourse  to  sink  our  vessels, 
and  we  accomplished  this  operation,  taking  care  to  save 
the  flag,  the  distinguishing  pennant,  the  money  in  the 
safe,  the  portable  arms,  the  breech  plugs  of  the  guns, 
and  the  signal  codes. 

"After  which  I  went  with  my  staff  to  the  Convent  of 
Santo  Domingo  de  Cavite,  to  be  cured  of  a  wound  re 
ceived  in  the  left  leg,  and  to  telegraph  a  brief  report 
of  the  action,  with  preliminaries  and  results. 

"It  remains  only  to  say  that  all  the  chiefs,  officers, 
engineers,  quartermasters,  gunners,  sailors,  and  soldiers 
rivaled  one  another  in  sustaining  with  honor  the  good 
name  of  the  navy  on  this  sad  day. 

"The  inefficiency  of  the  vessels  which  composed  my 
little  squadron,  the  lack  of  all  classes  of  the  personnel, 


296  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

especially  master  gunners  and  seaman  gunners ;  the  in 
aptitude  of  some  of  the  provisional  machinists,  the  scarcity 
of  rapid-fire  cannon,  the  strong  crews  of  the  enemy,  and 
the  unprotected  character  of  the  greater  part  of  our  ves 
sels,  all  contributed  to  make  more  decided  the  sacrifice 
which  we  made  for  our  country  and  to  prevent  the  pos 
sibility  of  the  horrors  of  the  bombardment  of  the  city  of 
Manila,  with  the  conviction  that  with  the  scarcity  of  our 
force  against  the  superior  enemy  we  wTere  going  to  cer 
tain  death  and  could  expect  a  loss  of  all  our  ships. 

"Our  casualties,  including  those  of  the  arsenal, 
amounted  to  three  hundred  and  eighty-one  men  killed 
and  wounded/' 

The  Reveille,  published  by  the  cadets  of  Norwich  Uni 
versity,  in  its  issue  following  the  Battle  of  Manila,  con 
tained  two  accounts  of  that  glorious  victory,  one  written 
by  Lieutenant-Commander  George  P.  Colvocoresses,  of  the 
Concord,  and  the  other  translated  by  him  from  the  Diario 
de  Manila  of  May  4.  In  a  letter  accompanying  these 
articles,  the  lieutenant-commander  bore  testimony  to  the 
affectionate  interest  with  which  Admiral  Dewey  regarded 
his  early  training  school. 

The  description  of  the  battle  by  Commander  Colvo 
coresses  does  not  differ  materially  from  the  accounts 
previously  accepted  as  accurate,  but  the  Spanish  news 
paper  report,  while  throwing  no  new  light  on  the  en- 
gagementj  is  interesting  because  of  the  point  of  view 
represented.  It  begins  as  follows :- 

"  As  the  sun  rose  above  the  clouds  and  mist  that  overhung  our 
shores  on  the  morning  of  May  1,  the  inhabitants  of  Manila  saw 


MONTOJO'S  VERSION  OF  THE  BATTLE         297 

with  surprise  and  dismay  the  enemy's  squadron  in  well-ordered  line 
of  battle  on  the  waters  of  the  bay.  Who  could  have  imagined 
that  they  \voulcl  have  the  rashness  to  stealthily  approach  our  shores, 
provoking  our  defenders  to  an  unavailing  display  of  skill  and  valor, 
in  which,  alas,  balls  could  not  be  propelled  by  heart-throbs,  else 
the  result  would  have  been  different  ? 

The  sound  of  the  shots  from  our  batteries  and  those  from  the 
enemy's  ships,  which  awakened  the  citizens  of  Manila  at  five  o'clock 
on  that  May  morning,  transformed  the  character  of  our  peaceful  and 
happy  surroundings.  Frightened  at  the  prospect  of  dangers  that 
seemed  greater  than  they  were,  women  and  children  in  carriages, 
or  by  whatever  means  they  could,  sought  refuge  in  the  outskirts 
of  the  city,  while  all  the  men,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  the 
merchant  and  the  mechanic,  the  soldier  and  the  peasant,  the  dwell 
ers  of  the  mainland  and  those  of  the  coast,  repaired  to  their  posts 
and  took  up  arms  confident  that  never,  except  by  passing  over 
their  dead  bodies,  should  the  soil  of  Manila  be  defiled  by  the 
enemy,  notwithstanding  that  from  the  first  it  was  apparent  that  the 
armored  ships  and  powerful  guns  were  invulnerable  to  any  effort 
at  our  command.  Before  entering  our  port  the  enemy  had  well 
assured  himself  of  his  superiority  over  our  defenses. 

Then  follows  a  list  and  description  of  the  Spanish 
and  American  vessels.  The  walls  of  the  public  square, 
it  is  said,  the  towers  of  the  churches,  the  upper  stories 
of  houses,  and  every  place  that  commanded  a  view 
of  the  bay,  were  thronged  by  eager  spectators.  The 
account  is  continued  :— 

The  shots  from  the  batteries  and  plaza  produced  no  impression 
upon  the  cruisers.  The  spectators  on  the  shore,  with  and  without 
glasses,  continued  to  scan  the  advancing  enemy,  who,  although  he 
may  have  been  brave,  had  no  occasion  to  show  it,  since  the  range  of 
his  guns  and  the  deficiencies  of  our  artillery  enabled  him  to  do  all 
the  harm  he  wished  with  impunity.  ...  A  soldier  of  the  First 
Battalion  of  Sharpshooters,  who  saw  the  squadron  so  far  out  of  range 
of  our  batteries,  said,  glancing  up  to  heaven,  'If  the  Holy  Mary 
would  only  transform  that  water  into  land,  then  the  Yankees  would 


298  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

see  how  we  could  fight.'  And  a  Malay,  squatting  near  by,  exclaimed, 
*  Let  them  land,  and  we  will  crush  them  under  heel  ! '  Meanwhile  the 
enemy  proceeded  with  speed  and  safety,  in  perfect  formation,  towards 
Cavite,  with  the  decision  born  of  security. 

" .  .  .  From  Manila  we  could  see,  by  the  aid  of  glasses,  the 
two  squadrons  almost  confounded  and  enveloped  in  clouds  of  smoke. 
Owing  to  the  inferiority  of  our  batteries,  it  was  evident  that  the 
enemy  was  triumphant  and  secure  in  his  armored  strength  ;  he  was  a 
mere  machine,  requiring  only  motive  power  to  keep  in  action  his  de 
structive  agencies.  .  .  .  Who  can  describe  the  heroic  acts,  the 
prowess,  the  deeds  of  valor  performed  by  the  sailors  of  our  squadron 
as  rage  animated  them?  All  who  were  beneath  the  folds  of  the  ban 
ner  of  Spain  did  their  duty  as  becomes  the  chosen  sons  of  the 
Fatherland.  " 

A  description  of  some  details  of  the  engagement  is 
given,  in  which  it  is  said :  "A  thick  column  of  smoke 
burst  out  of  the  forward  storeroom  hatch  of  the  Eeina 
Christina,  indicating  that  an  incendiary  projectile,  of  the 
kind  prohibited  by  Divine  and  human  laws,  had  taken  ef 
fect  in  the  cruiser.  Without  ceasing  her  fire,  she  retired 
toward  the  shore  and  was  scuttled  to  avoid  falling  into 
the  Yankees'  hands.  The  indignation  of  the  sailors  of 
the  Eeina  Christina  was  raised  to  the  highest  pitch  at  see 
ing  the  Cast-ilia  on  fire  from  the  same  incendiary  causes." 
Finally,  it  is  said:  "The  Spanish  vessels  that  had  not  suc 
cumbed  to  the  flames  or  the  shots  of  the  enemy  were 
run  aground,  as  they  could  not  be  disposed  of  in  any 
other  way.  This  was  the  last  stroke  ;  we  could  do  no 
more ;  the  combat  of  Cavite  was  ended,  and  our  last 
vessel  went  down  flying  her  colors."  A  list  of  the  Span 
ish  killed  and  wounded  is  given,  and  high  praise  is 
awarded  to  the  defenders  of  the  batteries  at  Manila  and 
Cavite. 


CHAPTER   XI 
THE  FLEETS   COMPARED 

AN  OFFICIAL  STATEMENT  OF  THE  GUNS  AND  MEN -A  BRIEF 
SKETCH  OF  EACH  OF  THE  COMMANDERS  OF  THE  VESSELS 
IN  ADMIRAL  DEWEY'S  FLEET 

HILE  this  is  in  no  sense  a  history 
of  the  war  with  Spain,  a  few  of 
the  details  regarding  that  por 
tion  of  it  in  which  George  Dewey 
played  so  important  a  part  will 
not  be  out  of  place  here.  It  has 
been  said  by  some  unfriendly 
critics  that  the  Spanish  forces 
were  greatly  overmatched  in  the 
Battle  of  Manila,  and  it  is  well 
that  there  should  be  no  misunderstanding  on  that  point  — 
well  for  us,  and  more  so  for  future  generations. 

George  Dewey's  fighting  force  consisted  of  seven  vessels 
and  was    accompanied   by  two    transports    with    supplies 

(299) 


TUtucti  hred  a  phot  across  ttve  TJOUI 
oE  the    (Bennau   Cruipev 


300  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

and  ammunition.  The  following  statement  of  facts  will 
be  of  interest  here  :  - 

Fleet  officers:  Commodore  George  Dewey,  commander- 
in-chief  ;  Commander  B.  P.  Lamberton,  chief-of-staff ;  Lieu 
tenant  L.  M.  Brumby,  flag-lieutenant;  Ensign  H.  H. 
Caldwell,  secretary. 

The  flagship  of  the  squadron,  the  cruiser  Olympia,  is 
a  twin-screw  steamer  of  steel,  with  two  covered  bar 
bettes  and  two  military  masts,  and  wTas  launched  at  San 
Francisco  in  1892.  She  is  three  hundred  and  forty  feet 
long,  has  a  beam  of  fifty-three  feet  and  a  mean  draft  of 
twenty-one  feet  six  inches.  Her  tonnage  is  5,870  tons,  her 
coal-carrying  capacity  is  1,300  tons,  and  her  speed  is  21| 
knots.  Her  armor  consists  of  steel  deck  plates,  steel- 
covered  barbettes,  hoods,  and  gun  shields,  and  two  conning 
towers.  She  is  also  protected  with  a  cellulose  belt  thirty- 
three  inches  thick  and  eight  feet  broad.  Her  armament 
includes  four  8-inch  breechloaders,  ten  5-inch  quick-firing 
guns,  fourteen  6-pounder  quick-fire  guns,  six  1-pound  quick- 
fire  guns,  four  gatlings,  and  six  torpedo  tubes.  She  carries 
466  men  and  belongs  to  the  second  class  *of  protected 
cruisers. 

Her  staff  of  officers  during  the  Battle  of  Manila  was 
as  follows :  — 

Captain,  Charles  V.  Gridley  ;  lieutenant-commander.  S.  C. 
Paine;  lieutenants,  Corwin  P.  Rees,  C.  G.  Calkins,  V.  S. 
Nelson,  G.  S.  Morgan,  S.  M.  Strite  ;  ensigns,  M.  M.  Tay 
lor,  F.  B.  Upham,  W.  P.  Scott,  A.  G.  Kavanagh,  H.  V. 
Butler ;  medical  inspector,  A.  F.  Price ;  passed  assistant 
surgeon,  J.  E.  Page ;  assistant  surgeon,  C.  H.  Kindleberger ; 


THE    FLEETS   COMPARED 


301 


pay  inspector,  D.  A.  Smith;  chief  engineer,  J.  Entwistle; 
assistant  engineers,  E.  H.  De  Lany,  J.  F.  Marshall.  Jr.; 
chaplain,  J.  B.  Frazier;  captain  of  marines,  W.  P.  Biddle; 
gunner,  L.  J.  G.  Kuhlwien  ;  carpenter,  W.  Macdonald  ;  act 
ing  boatswain,  E.  J.  Norcott. 


FIGHTING  TOP  OF  A  WAR-SHIP 


The  Baltimore  was  launched  in  Philadelphia  in  1888. 
She  is  also  a  protected  cruiser  of  the  second  class,  is  built 
of  steel,  has  twin  screws  and  two  military  masts.  She  is 
three  hundred  and  twenty-seven  feet  six  inches  long, 
forty-eight  feet  six  inches  in  beam,  has  a  mean  draft  of 


302  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

nineteen  feet  six  inches,  a  tonnage  of  4,600  tons,  and  a 
speed  of  20  knots.  Her  protection  consists  of  steel  deck 
plates,  shields  for  all  the  guns,  and  conning  tower.  Her 
armament  consists  of  four  8-inch  breechloaders,  six  6-inch 
breechloaders,  two  6-pound  rapid-firers,  two  3-pound  rapid- 
firers,  two  1-pound  rapid-firers,  four  1-pound  revolving 
cannon,  two  gatling  guns,  and  five  torpedo  tubes.  She 
carries  a  crew  of  395  men. 

Officers  :  Captain,  K  M.  Dyer ;  lieutenant-commander, 
G.  Blocklinger ;  lieutenants,  W.  Braunersreuther,  F.  W.  Kel 
logg,  J.  M.  Ellicott,  C.  S.  Stanworth;  ensigns,  G.  H.  Hay- 
ward.  M.  J.  McCormack,  U.  E.  Irwin ;  naval  cadets,  D.  W. 
Wurtsbaugh,  I.  Z.  Wettensoll,  C.  M.  Tozer,  T.  A.  Karney ; 
passed  assistant  surgeon,  F.  A.  Heiseler;  assistant  surgeon, 
R.  K.  Smith ;  pay  inspector.  E.  Bellows ;  chief  engineer,  A. 
C.  Engard ;  assistant  engineers,  H.  B.  Price,  H.  I.  Cone ; 
naval  cadet  engineer,  C.  P.  Burt ;  Chaplain,  T.  S.  K.  Free 
man  ;  first  lieutenant  of  marines,  D.  Williams ;  acting  boat 
swain,  H.  R.  Brayton ;  gunner,  L.  J.  Connelly ;  acting 
gunner,  L.  J.  Waller;  carpenter,  0.  Bath. 

The  Boston,  also  a  second-class  protected  cruiser,  was 
launched  in  1884.  She  is  a  steel  vessel  of  3,189  tons,  with 
a  single  screw.  Her  length  is  two  hundred  and  seventy 
feet  three  inches,  beam  forty-two  feet,  and  mean  draft 
seventeen  feet.  Her  speed  is  15i  knots.  Her  deck  is 
partially  protected,  and  she  carries  two  8-inch  breechload 
ers,  six  6^inch  breechloaders,  two  6-pound,  two  3-pound, 
and  two  1-pound  rapid-fire  guns,  two  3-pound  revolv 
ing  cannon,  and  two  gatlings.  Her  crew  consists  of  272 
men. 


THE   FLEETS  COMPARED 


305 


Officers :  Cap 
tain,  F.  Wildes ; 
lieutenant-com 
mander,  J.  A. 
Norris ;  lieuten 
ants,  J.  Gibson, 
W.  L.  Howard  ; 
ensigns,  S.  S. 
Robinson,  L.  H0 
Everhart,  J.  S. 
Doddridge  ;  sur- 
g  e  o  n ,  M .  H . 
Crawford;  as 
sistant  surgeon, 
R.  S.  Balkeman; 
paymaster,  J.  R. 
Martin;  chief 
engineer,  G.  B. 
Ransom ;  assist 
ant  engineer,  L. 
J.  James ;  first 
lieutenant  of  marines,  R.  McM.  Button;  gunner,  J.  C. 
Evans;  carpenter,  I.  H.  Hilton. 

The  Raleigh  was  launched  at  Norfolk  in  1892.  She 
is  a  steel  cruiser  of  the  second  class  with  twin  screws 
and  military  masts.  She  is  three  hundred  feet  long, 
forty-two  feet  in  beam,  eighteen  feet  draft,  3,183  tons,  and 
a  speed  of  19  knots.  Her  deck  is  protected  with  armor; 
she  carries  a  cellulose  belt,  an  armored  conning  tower 
and  steel  sponsons.  She  carries  one  6-inch  rapid-fire 

D.— 20 


SEARCHLIGHT  OF  A  WAR-SHIP 


306  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

gun  on  her  forecastle,  ten  5-inch  rapid-fire  guns,  two 
on  the  poop  and  four  on  each  side  of  the  gun-deck 
in  sponsons;  eight  6-pound  and  four  1-pound  rapid-fire 
guns,  two  gatlings,  and  six  torpedo  tubes.  Her  crew 
numbers  295  men. 

Officers :  Captain,  J.  B.  Coghlan ;  lieutenant-commander, 
F.  Singer ;  lieutenants,  W.  Winder,  B.  Tappan,  H.  Rod 
man,  C.  B.  Morgan ;  ensigns,  F.  L.  Chidwick,  P.  Babin  ; 
surgeon,  E.  H.  Marsteller ;  assistant  surgeon,  D.  N.  Car 
penter  ;  passed  assistant  paymaster,  S.  R.  Heap ;  chief 
engineer,  F.  H.  Bailey ;  passed  assistant  engineer,  A.  S. 
Halstead ;  assistant  engineer,  J.  R.  Brady ;  first  lieutenant 
of  marines,  T.  C.  Treadwell ;  acting  gunner,  G.  D.  John- 
stone  ;  acting  carpenter,  T.  E.  Kiley. 

The  Concord  is  a  third-class  cruiser,  really  a  gunboat, 
of  1,700  tons,  with  twin  screws,  length  of  two  hundred 
and  thirty  feet,  beam  of  thirty-six  feet,  draft  of  four 
teen  feet,  and  can  make  17  knots.  Her  deck  and  con 
ning  tower  are  protected  with  light  armor.  She  carries 
six  6-inch  guns,  two  6-pound,  two  3-pound,  and  one 
1-pound  rapid-fire  guns,  two  2-pound  revolving  cannon, 
two  gatlings,  and  two  torpedo  tubes.  She  has  a  crew 
of  150  men. 

Officers :  Commander,  Asa  Walker ;  lieutenant-com 
mander,  G.  P.  Colvocoresses ;  lieutenants,  T.  B.  Howard, 
P.  W.  Hourigan;  ensigns,  L.  A.  Kiser,  W.  C.  Davidson, 
0.  S.  Knepper;  passed  assistant  surgeon,  R.  G.  Broderick; 
passed  assistant  paymaster,  E.  D.  Ryan ;  chief  engineer, 
Richard  Inch ;  passed  assistant  engineer,  H.  W.  Jones ; 
assistant  engineer,  E.  H.  Dunn. 


THE    FLEETS  COMPARED 


307 


The  Petrel  is 
a  gunboat  of  800 
tons.  She  was 
launched  in  Bal 
timore  in  1888, 
is  one  hundred 
and  seventy-six 
feet  long,  thirty- 
one  feet  beam, 
eleven  feet  seven 
inches  in  draft, 
and  makes  13.7 
knots  an  hour. 
Her  deck  and 
6-inch  guns  are 
protected  with 
armor.  She  car 
ries  four  6-inch 
guns,  two  3-pound  and  one  1-pound  rapid-fire  guns,  two 
1 -pound  revolving  cannon,  and  two  gatlings.  Her  crew 
is  100  men. 

Officers :  Commander,  E.  P.  Wood ;  lieutenants,  E.  M. 
Hughes,  B.  A.  Fiske,  A.  N.  Wood,  C.  P.  Plunkett;  en 
signs,  G.  L.  Fermier,  W.  S.  Montgomery ;  passed  assistant 
surgeon,  C.  D.  Brownell ;  assistant  paymaster,  G.  G.  Sie- 
bells ;  passed  assistant  engineer,  R.  T.  Hall. 

The  McCulloch  is  a  revenue  cutter  of  1,500  tons,  built 
of  steel  and  armed  with  four  4-inch  guns.  She  has  a 
speed  of  14  knots  an  hour,  and  carries  a  force  of  130 
men. 


THIRTEEN-INCH  SHELLS 


308  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Admiral  Montojo's  fleet  consisted  of  twelve  vessels. 
The  Reina  Christina,  the  flagship,  was  an  armored  cruiser 
of  3,090  tons;  she  was  launched  at  Ferrol  in  1887.  She 
had  a  single  screw,  was  two  hundred  and  eighty  feet  long, 
forty-three  feet  in  beam,  had  a  mean  draft  of  fifteen  feet 
six  inches,  and  a  speed  of  17 \  knots.  She  carried  an  arm 
ament  of  six  6.2-inch  Hontorio  breechloaders,  two  2.7-inch 
Hontorios,  three  6-pound,  two  4-pound,  and  six  3-pound 
rapid-fire  guns,  two  machine  guns,  and  five  torpedo  tubes. 
She  had  a  crew  of  370  men. 

The  Cast-ill  a  was  a  wooden,  second-class  cruiser,  launched 
at  Cadiz  in  1881,  and  was  bark-rigged,  with  a  single  screw. 
Her  length  was  two  hundred  and  forty-six  feet,  her  beam 
forty-six  feet,  her  draft  twenty-one  feet,  her  displacement 
3,342  tons,  and  her  speed  14  knots.  Her  armament  con 
sisted  of  four  5.9-inch  Krupp  guns,  two  4.7-inch  Krupp 
guns,  two  3.4-inch  guns,  two  2.9-inch  Krupp  guns,  eight 
rapid-fire  guns,  four  1 -pound  revolving  cannon,  and  two 
torpedo  tubes.  She  carried  300  men. 

The  Don  Juan  de  Austria  was  an  iron  cruiser  of  the 
third  class.  She  was  launched  at  Trieste  in  1875,  had  a 
displacement  of  1,130  tons,  a  length  of  two  hundred  and 
ten  feet,  beam  of  thirty-two  feet,  draft  of  twelve  feet  six 
inches,  and  a  speed  of  14  knots.  She  carried  an  armored 
belt  of  from  four  to  eight  inches  thick  and  nine  and 
one-half  feet  broad.  Her  armament  consisted  of  four 
4.7-inch  Hontorio  breechloaders,  two  2.7-inch  breech 
loaders,  twelve  3-pound  quick-firers,  four  1-pound  revolv 
ing  cannon,  five  machine  guns,  and  four  torpedo  tubes. 
Her  central  batteries  and  bulkheads  were  shielded 


THE    FLEETS   COMPARED 


309 


and  her  deck  was  pro 
tected.  She  carried  a 
crew  of  173  men. 

The  Don  Antonio  de 
Ulloa  was  a  third-class 
unprotected  cruiser. 
She  was  launched  at 
Caraca  in  1887.  She 
was  an  iron  single- 
screw  vessel,  two  hun 
dred  and  ten  feet  long, 
thirty-two  feet  beam, 
with  a  draft  of  twelve 
and  a  half  feet,  a  dis 
placement  of  1,152  tons 
and  a  speed  of  14  knots 
an  hour.  Her  arma 
ment  consisted  of  four 
4.7-inch  Hontorio  breechloaders,  and  five  6-pound  Krupp 
rapid-firers.  She  carried  a  crew  of  173  men. 

The  Velasco  was  a  small  cruiser  of  the  old  type, 
launched  at  Blackwell  in  1881.  She  was  of  iron,  with 
one  screw,  a  length  of  two  hundred  and  ten  feet,  a 
beam  of  thirty-two  feet,  a  draft  of  thirteen  feet,  a  ton 
nage  of  1,139,  and  a  speed  of  14  knots.  She  carried 
three  6-inch  Armstrong  breechloaders,  two  2-inch  Hon 
torio  guns,  and  two  machine  guns.  Her  crew  was  173 
men. 

The  Isla  de  Cuba  and  Isla  de  Luzon  were  sister  ships. 
They  were  both  laid  down  at  Elswick  in  1886  and 


SIGNALING  ON    BOARD  A  WAR-SHIP 


310  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

launched  in  1887.  They  were  third-class  protected  cruis 
ers  with  two  screws  and  carried  military  masts.  Their 
length  was  one  hundred  and  eighty-five  feet,  their  beam 
thirty  feet,  their  mean  draft  eleven  feet  six  inches,  their 
displacement  1.040  tons,  and  their  speed  15  knots.  They 
were  protected  by  steel  deck  plates  and  carried  steel-clad 
conning  towers.  The  armament  of  each  consisted  of  six 
4.7-inch  Hontorio  guns,  four  6-pound  rapid-firing  guns, 
four  1-inch  Nordenfeldt  machine  guns,  and  three  torpedo 
tubes.  They  carried  164  men  each. 

The  Quiros  and  Villalobos  were  also  sister  ships,  both 
launched  at  Hong-Kong,  the  former  in  1895  and  the 
latter  in  1896.  They  were  gunboats  of  composite  con 
struction,  single  screw,  one  hundred  and  forty-five  feet 
long,  and  twenty-three  feet  beam.  Their  tonnage  was  347 
tons,  and  their  speed  12  knots.  They  were  each  armed 
with  two  6-pound  rapid-firing  guns,  and  two  five-barreled 
Nordenfeldt  machine  guns.  Each  had  a  crew  of  60  men. 

The  gunboats  El  Correo  and  General  Lezo  were  likewise 
sister  ships.  They  were  twin-screw  iron  vessels  of  524 
tons  displacement  with  engines  of  600  horse  power.  They 
were  built  respectively  at  Caraca  and  Cartagena  in  1885. 
The  El  Correo  was  armed  with  three  4.7-inch  Hontorio 
guns,  two  quick-fire  guns,  two  machine  guns,  and  one  tor 
pedo  tube.  Her  speed  was  10  knots.  The  General  Lezo 
carried  one  3.5-inch  gun.  had  one  machine  gun,  and  two 
torpedo  tubes.  The  complement  of  each  gunboat  was 
98  men. 

The  Marques  del  Duero  was  a  dispatch  boat  used  as  a 
gunboat.  She  was  an  iron  twin-screw  vessel  of  500  tons, 


THE    FLEETS   COMPAEED 


311 


was  built  at  La  Seyne  in  1875,  was  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven  feet  long  and  twenty-six  feet  in  beam.  Her  speed 
was  10  knots  an  hour.  She  carried  one  6.2-inch  muzzle- 
loading  Palliser  rifle,  two  4.7-inch  smoothbores,  and  a 
machine  gun.  Her  complement  was  98  men. 

Besides  these  the  Spaniards  had  two  transports,  one 
of  which  carried  two  torpedo  boats ;  otherwise  these  latter 
vessels  were  not  in  the  fight. 

Taking  the  three  items  of  class,  armament,  and  com 
plement,  the  two  fleets  stood  as  follows:  — 


FLEET  OF  COMMODORE  DEWEY 


NAME 

CLASS 

ARMAMENT 

MEN  AND 
OFFICERS 

OLYMPI  \*  . 

Protected  Cruiser 

Four  8-in.,  ten  5-in 

24  R.  F. 

466 

BALTIMORE  
BOSTON  
RALEIGH  
CONCORD  
PETREL  

McCuLLOCH  

Protected  Cruiser 
Par.  Ptd.  Cruiser 
Protected  Cruiser 
Gunboat 
Gunboat 
Revenue  Cutter 

Four  8-in.,  six  6-in. 
Two  8-in.,  six  6-in., 
One  6-in.,  ten  5-in., 
Six  6-in.,  9  R.  F. 
Four  6-in.,  7  R.  F. 
Four  4-in. 

,  12  R.  F. 
10  R.  F. 
14  R.  F. 

395 
272 
295 
150 
100 
130 

FLEET  OF  ADMIRAL  MONTOJO 


REINA  CHRISTINA*  

Steel  Cruiser 

Six  6.2  in.,  two  2.7,  13  R.  F. 

370 

CASTILLA  

Wood  Cruiser 

Four  5.9,  two  4.7,  two  3.4,  two 

2.9  in.,  12  R.  F. 

300 

DON  ANTONIO  DE  ULLOA 

Iron  Cruiser 

Four  4.7  in.,  5  R.  F. 

173 

DON  JUAN  DE  AUSTRIA  . 

Iron  Cruiser 

Four  4.7,  two  2.7  in.,  21  R.  F. 

173 

ISLA  DE  LUZON  

Steel  Ptd.  Cruiser 

Six  4.7  in.  ,8  R.  F. 

164 

ISLA  DE  CUBA  

Steel  Ptd.  Cruiser 

Six  4.7,  8  R.  F. 

164 

YELASCO  

Iron  Cruiser 

Three  6-in.,  two  2.7,  2  R.  F. 

173 

MARQUES  DEL  DUERO  .  . 

Gunboat 

One  6.2,  two  4.7  in.,  1  R.  F. 

98 

GENERAL  LEZO  

Gunboat 

One  3.5  in.,  1  R.  F. 

98 

EL  CORREO  

Gunboat 

Three  4.7  in.,4R.F. 

116 

QUIROS  

Gunboat 

4  R.  F. 

60 

VlLLALOBOS  

Gunboat 

4R.  F. 

60 

Two  torpedo  boats  and 

two  transports 

The  Flagship. 


312  LIFE   OF   ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Epitomized,  the  comparative  strength  was  as  follows:— 

George  Dewey  had  four  cruisers,  two  gunboats,  one  cut 
ter,  fifty-seven  classified  big  guns,  seventy-six  rapid-firers 
and  machine  guns,  and  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
eight  men. 

The  Spanish  admiral  had  seven  cruisers,  five  gunboats, 
two  torpedo  boats,  fifty-two  classified  big  guns,  eighty- 
three  rapid-firers  and  machine  guns,  and  one  thousand 
nine  hundred  and  forty-nine  men. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  the  Americans  had  a  greater 
number  of  heavy  guns  and  that  their  ships  were  of  more 
modern  construction ;  nor  must  it  be  overlooked  that  the 
Spanish  fleet  was  much  more  numerous,  and  that  it  had 
the  immense  assistance  of  protecting  forts  manned  with 
strong  garrisons  and  mounting  an  unknown  number  of 
guns,  of  whose  calibre  and  force  the  most  terrible  tales  had 
been  circulated  by  the  Spanish  press  and  officials. 

That  the  Spaniards  were  outclassed  is  true ;  but, 
though  it  may  sound  paradoxical,  that  the  odds  were 
with  them  and  against  the  Americans  is  equally  true. 
The  superiority  of  George  Dewey's  fleet  was  not  in  num 
ber  of  boats  or  men,  nor  the  size  or  number  of  his  guns. 
It  was  the  superiority  of  his  gunners  as  marksmen ;  the 
advantage  gained  by  practice  and  skill,  coupled  with 
Yankee  ingenuity,  and  the  long  and  wise  head  of  the 
American  commander,  which  made  his  victory  possible, 
and  raised  the  standing  of  the  American  Navy  to  that 
of  a  first-rate  power  among  the  navies  of  the  world. 
Had  the  positions  been  reversed,  the  Spaniards  having 
the  American  boats  and  guns,  and  George  Dewey  in 


THE    FLEETS   COMPARED 


313 


CAPTAIN  BENJ.  P.  LAMBERTON 


command    of    the   vessels   and   guns 
which  were  pitted  against   him,  the 
result  would  have  been  the  same  — 
the    Americans    would    surely    have 
been    the   victors. 

The  following  brief  biographical 
sketches  of  the  prominent  officers  who 
served  with  George  Dewey,  in  our 
late  war  with  Spain,  without  whom 
the  Admiral  in  his  official  report, 
says,  he  "could  have  done  nothing," 
will  be  of  interest  to  our  readers:  — 

Captain  Benjamin  Peffor  Lamberton,  Dewey's  Chief 
of  Staff  at  the  Battle  of  Manila,  was  born  in  Pennsyl 
vania,  and  graduated  from  the  Naval  Academy  in  1865. 
He  was  attached  to  the  steam  sloop  Susqtiehanna,  of  the 
Brazil  squadron  for  one  year,  and  the  Juniata  from  1866 
to  1867,  when  he  went  to  the  apprentice  ship  Saratoga, 
where  he  served  until  1869.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
been  four  times  promoted,  a  master  in  1866,  a  lieutenant 
in  the  year  following,  and  a  lieutenant-commander  in 
1868. 

From  1870  to  1874  he  served  on  the  Mohican  and 
the  Dictator  and  was  on  torpedo  duty  in  the  year  follow 
ing.  He  went  to  the  Boston  navy  yard  in  1876,  and 
afterward  to  the  Portsmouth  navy  yard.  From  1877  to 
1879  he  served  on  the  Alaska  of  the  Pacific  station,  when 
he  became  connected  with  the  Bureau  of  Equipment, 
where  he  served  until  1882.  He  was  with  the  Vandalia 
for  two  years,  and  from  1885  to  1888  was  a  lighthouse 


314 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


CAPTAIN   CHAS.  V.   GRIDLEY 


inspector.  He  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  commander  in  1885,  and  from 
1888  to  1889  was  commandant  of 
the  Norfolk  navy  yard.  He  next 
commanded  the  training  ship  James- 
toicn  for  two  years  and  then  went 
to  the  Bureau  of  Yards  and  Docks. 
Captain  Charles  Vernon  Gridley 
was  born  in  Indiana  and  appointed 
to  the  Naval  Academy  from  Michi 
gan.  He  graduated  in  1863  and 
was  assigned  to  the  steam  sloop 
Oneida,  where  he  served  for  two  years.  He  was  at 
the  battle  of  Mobile  Bay,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war 
was  ordered  to  the  Brooklyn,  the  flagship  of  the  Brazil 
squadron,  where  he  served  two  years,  and  on  being 
transferred  to  the  Kearsanje  on  the  same  station  he 
served  two  years  there.  He  was  promoted  in  1868,  and 
served  during  the  early  seventies  on  the  Monongahela  and 
for  the  following  four  years  at  the  Naval  Academy,  during 
which  time  he  served  on  the  practice  ship  Constellation. 
He  was  on  the  Trenton  for  two  years,  commanded  the 
Jamestown  and  Portsmouth,  and  was  senior  officer  of  the 
cruising  training  squadron  during  1886.  He  was  made  a 
captain  in  March  1897,  which  position  he  held  on  the 
Olympia  at  the  Battle  of  Manila.  He  died  at  Kobe, 
Japan,  June  4,  1898. 

Captain  Nehemiah  Mayo  Dyer  was  born  in  Province- 
town,  Mass.,  in  1839,  educated  in  the  public  schools,  served 
in  the  merchants'  service  from  the  age  of  fourteen  to 


THE    FLEETS   COMPARED  315 

twenty,  enlisted  and  served  in  the  fourth  battalion  of 
rifles,  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  and  was  with  Banks'  divi 
sion,  Army  of  the  Potomac.  In  April  1862  he  was  appointed 
an  acting  Master's  mate  in  the  Navy  and  assigned  to  the 
Cuyler,  on  which  ship  he  served  in  the  West  Gulf  squad 
ron  until  he  was,  for  gallant  conduct  in  capturing  and 


KOBE  AND  HARBOR,  JAPAN,  WHERE  CAPTAIN  GRIDLEY  DIED,    JUNE  4,   1898 

burning  the  confederate  schooner  Isabelle,  promoted  to 
acting  ensign  by  Admiral  Farragut  and  appointed  to  com 
mand  the  Eugenia.  In  1865  he  was  promoted  to  acting 
volunteer  lieutenant,  and  upon  the  surrender  of  the  con 
federate  fleet  under  Commodore  Farrand  he  was  selected 
to  command  two  of  the  surrendered  vessels.  He  was 
made  lieutenant  in  the  navy  in  1868,  and  a  few  months 


316 


LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


COM.   N.   MAYO  DYER 


afterward  was  promoted.  On  a  cruise, 
while  attached  to  the  Ossipee  on  the 
Mexican  coast,  in  1870,  he  rescued  a 
sailor  from  drowning  by  jumping 
overboard,  for  which  he  was  com 
mended  by  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy.  He  has  commanded  a  num 
ber  of  vessels  in  the  last  twenty 
years,  and  was  in  charge  of  the 
Baltimore  at  the  Battle  of  Manila. 

Captain  Joseph  Bullock  Coghlan 
was  born  in  Kentucky  and  appointed 
from  Illinois,  graduating  in  1863.  He  was  promoted  two 
years  later  and  was  assigned  to  the  flagship  Brooklyn,  where 
he  served  two  years.  He  was  executive  officer  of  the 
Pawnee  in  1867,  and  on  the  steam  frigate  Guerriere  in 
1868.  The  next  year  he  was  on  the  sailing  sloop  Ports 
mouth,  from  which  he  was  transferred  to  the  Richmond, 
on  the  European  station.  He  com 
manded  the  Smtgus  for  one  year  and 
the  Colorado  for  another  year.  For 
two  years  he  commanded  the  Monon- 
yahela,  on  the  Asiatic  station,  and  on 
being  promoted  to  commander  in 
1882  was  assigned  to  the  Adams.  He 
was  inspector  of  ordnance  at  League 
Island  in  1891,  was  made  captain  in 
1896,  and  commanded  the  Raleigh  at 
the  Battle  of  Manila.  This  vessel  re 
turned  to  the  United  States  on  April 


CAPTAIN  JOSEPH   B.  COGHLAN 


THE    FLEETS   COMPARED 


317 


CAPTAIN    FRANK  WILDES 


16,  1899,  landing  at  New  York,  and 
Captain  Coghlan  and  his  brave  crew 
received  an  enthusiastic  ovation  from 
the  people. 

Captain  Frank  Wildes,  of  the 
Boston,  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
and  was  appointed  to  the  Annapolis 
Naval  Academy  in  1860.  He  grad 
uated  three  years  later,  and  wras 
made  an  ensign  the  same  day. 
He  served  on  the  steam  sloop  Lack- 
an- anna  of  the  West  Gulf  squadron 
under  Farragut,  and  took  part  in  all  the  engagements, 
till  the  surrender  of  Fort  Morgan,  He  was  next  as 
signed  to  the  monitor  Chickasaw,  and  was  on  this  vessel 
during  her  operations  in  Mobile  Bay  in  the  Spring  of 
1865,  and  until  the  occupation  of  Mobile.  Three  months 
later  he  was  transferred  to  the  iron-clad  Monadnock,  and 
remained  with  that  vessel  until  she  was  ordered  out  of 
commission,  when  he  went  to  the  command  of  the  trans 
port  Vanderbilt.  In  June  1866  he  received  his  commis 
sion  as  master,  and  one  year  later  as  lieutenant.  He 
was  with  the  steamer  Suwanee  until  her  wreck,  on  the 
north  coast  of  Vancouver's  Island,  in  1868.  From  1869 
to  1871  he  served  on  board  the  steam  sloop  Pensacola,  and 
the  frigate  Franklin.  In  1872,  he  spent  one  year  at  the 
Boston  navy  yard,  leaving  there  to  serve  as  executive 
officer  on  the  steam  sloop  Wyoming,  in  the  West  Indies, 
until  1874,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Wauchusett. 
In  1875  he  was  at  the  torpedo  school  at  Newport, 


318 


LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


COMMANDER  ASA  WALKER 


afterwards  assigned  to  the  iron-clad 
Dictator  for  two  years,  and  on  special 
ordnance  duty  at  Cold  Spring,  N.  Y., 
until  1880.  The  same  year  he  re 
ceived  his  commission  as  commander, 
and  was  assigned  to  the  Y  antic,  of 
the  North  Atlantic  station.  Three 
years  later  he  was  transferred  to 
shore  duty  at  the  Portsmouth  navy 
yard,  and  subsequently  as  lighthouse 
inspector.  He  next  commanded  the 
Yorktown  for  one  year,  followed  by 
another  period  of  shore  duty  at  the  navy  yard  at  Norfolk. 
In  July,  1894,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain, 
and  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  receiving  ship  Inde 
pendence  at  the  Mare  Island  navy  yard.  In  1895,  he  was 
ordered  to  the  Boston,  which  vessel  he  commanded  at 
the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay.  During  this  famous  naval 
engagement,  it  is  said  of  Captain  Wildes,  that  he  was 
second  only  to  the  commodore  of  the  fleet  in  his  cool 
ness  and  mastery  of  the  situation,  standing  on  the  bridge 
of  the  Boston,  during  the  conflict,  calmly  smoking  a 
cigar  and  fanning  himself  with  a  palm-leaf  fan.  After 
the  Battle  of  Manila,  1898,  Captain  Wildes  was  assigned 
to  duty  as  captain  of  the  navy  yard  at  Brooklyn. 

Commander  Asa  Walker,  of  the  Concord,  has  been  in 
the  naval  service  since  November  21,  1862.  He  is  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire.  On  March  12,  1868,  he  was 
made  an  ensign;  on  March  21,  1870,  a  lieutenant;  on  De 
cember  12,  1884,  a  lieutenant-commander;  and  on  April 


THE    FLEETS  COMPARED 


319 


COM.   EDWARD  P.  WOOD 


11,  1894,  a  commander.     He  was  as 
signed  to  the   Concord,  May  22,  1897. 

Commander  Edward  Parker  Wood, 
of  the  Petrel,  is  from  Ohio.  After 
four  years  in  the  Naval  Academy  he 
became  a  midshipman,  September  29, 
1863.  His  promotion  to  ensigncy  oc 
curred  in  October  1868.  In  1869  he 
became  a  master  and  in  the  year 
following  a  lieutenant.  His  next 
promotion  was  on  September  20, 
1890,  when  he  became  a  lieutenant- 
commander.  He  took  charge  of  the  Petrel,  December  16, 
1896,  and  on  July  13,  1897,  was  promoted  to  the  grade 
of  commander. 

Captain  Daniel  B.  Hodgsdon,  commanding  the  McCul- 
loch,  is  a  native  of  New  York.  On  November  12,  1898, 
he  completed  his  thirty-seventh  year  as  an  officer  of  the 
revenue  marine,  which  he  first  joined  at  Baltimore  in 
1861,  with  the  commission  of  third  lieutenant.  On  July 
14,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenancy,  and  on 
July  14,  1864,  his  commission  as  first  lieutenant  was 
presented  him.  September  14,  1868,  saw  him  wearing  the 
insignia  of  captain,  the  highest  rank  in  the  service,  a  posi 
tion  he  reached  in  about  seven  years.  In  his  thirty-seven 
years'  service  Captain  Hodgsdon  has  spent  twenty-five 
years  and  two  months  on  Atlantic  coast  stations,  seven 
and  a  half  years  on  the  lakes,  two  and  a  half  years  on 
the  Pacific,  including  nine  months  in  Alaska,  and  six 
years  on  life-saving  duty. 


American     autf     ^p.arti^'bu     Fleet  £. 

CHAPTER   XII 
OFFICIAL  STATEMENTS 

THE  PART  PLAYED  BY  EACH  OF  THE  VESSELS  IN  THE  AMERICAN 
SQUADRON  AS  TOLD  BY  THE  COMMANDING  AND  EXECU 
TIVE  OFFICERS  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY'S  FLEET 

E  following  reports  made  to  Ad 
miral  George  Dewey  by  the  offi 
cers  of  the  American  vessels  give 
in  detail  the  story  of  the  Battle 
of  Manila,  as  viewed  from  the 
bridge,  by  each  of  the  command 
ers  and  executive  officers:  — 

FROM  CAPTAIN  CHARLES  V.  GRIDLEY 
UNITED  STATES  FLAGSHIP  OLYMPIA,  j 
OFF  MANILA,  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS,  > 
May  3,  1898.  ) 

Sir:  —  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report 
of  this  ship's  engagement  with  the  enemy  on  May  1 :  — 

On  April  30  we  stood  down  for  the  entrance  to  Manila 
Bay.  At  9:42  P.M.  the  crew  were  called  to  general  quar 
ters  (the  ship  having  been  previously  cleared  for  action) 
and  remained  by  their  guns,  ready  to  return  the  fire  of 
the  batteries  if  called  upon. 

(320) 


of  Admiral  "Deuieij 


OFFICIAL    STATEMENTS  321 

At  about  11:30  P.M.  we  passed  through  Boca  Grande 
entrance  to  Manila  Bay.  The  lights  on  Corregidor  and 
Caballo  Islands  and  on  San  Nicolas  Banks  were  extin 
guished. 

After  this  ship  had  passed  in,  the  battery  on  the 
southern  shore  of  entrance  opened  fire  at  the  ships 
astern,  and  the  McCulloch  and  the  Boston  returned  the  fire. 

At  4  A.  M.  of  May  1  coffee  was  served  out  to  officers 
and  men.  At  daybreak  sighted  shipping  at  Manila. 
Shifted  course  to  southward  and  stood  for  Cavite.  At 
5:06  two  submarine  mines  were  exploded  near,  Cavite 
bearing  south-southeast,  distant  four  miles.  At  5:15  bat 
tery  on  Sangley  Point  opened  fire,  but  the  shell  fell  short. 
Other  shells  passed  over  us,  ranging  seven  miles.  At  5:41 
A.  M.  we  opened  fire  on  Spanish  ships  with  forward  8-inch 
guns,  which  were  soon  followed  by  the  5-inch  battery.  A 
rapid  fire  was  kept  up  until  the  close  of  the  action. 

The  range  varied  from  five  thousand  six  hundred  to 
two  thousand  yards. 

A  torpedo  boat  ran  out  and  headed  for  this  ship,  but 
was  finally  driven  back  by  our  secondary  battery.  She 
came  out  a  second  time  -and  was  again  repulsed.  This 
time  she  had  to  be  beached,  as  several  shot  had  hit  her. 

Batteries  from  Manila  fired  occasional  shots  at  the 
ships  during  the  action,  but  did  no  damage. 

At  6:20  turned  to  starboard  and  headed  back  in 
front  of  the  Spanish  line.  The  Olympia  led  the  column 
three  times  to  the  westward  and  twice  to  the  eastward 
in  front  of  the  Spanish  ships  and  shore  batteries.  On 
one  occasion  the  Spanish  flagship  Eeina  Christina  was 

D.— 21 


322  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

hit  by  an  8-inch  shell  from  our  forward  turret  and 
raked  fore  and  aft.  At  7:85  ceased  firing  and  stood 
out  into  Manila  Bay. 

The   men   went  to   breakfast. 

Many  of  the  Spanish  ships  were  seen  to  be  on  fire, 
and  when  we  returned  at  11:16  to  complete  the  de 
struction  of  the  Spanish  fleet,  only  one,  the  Don  Antonio 
de  Ulloa,  and  the  shore  batteries  returned  our  fire.  The 
former  was  sunk  and  the  latter  were  silenced. 

At  12:40  P.M.  stood  back  to  Manila  Bay  and  anchored. 

Besides  making  the  ordinary  preparations  of  clearing 
ship  for  action,  the  heavy  sheet  chains  were  faked  up 
and  down  over  a  buffer  of  awnings  against  the  sides 
in  wake  of  the  5-inch  ammunition  hoists,  and  afforded 
a  staunch  protection,  while  iron  and  canvas  barricades 
were  placed  in  various  places  to  cover  gun's  crews  and 
strengthen  moderate  defenses. 

The  vessel  was  struck  or  slightly   hulled  as  follows:  — 

1.  Plate    indented    one    and    one-half   inches    starboard 
side    of    superstructure     just    forward    of    second    5-inch 
sponson. 

2.  Three   planks  torn   up  slightly   in  wake  of  forward 
turret  on  starboard   side   of  forecastle. 

3.  Port   after  shrouds   of   fore   and   main   rigging. 

4.  Strongback  of  gig's  davits  hit  and  slightly  damaged. 

5.  Hole    in    frame    of    ship    between    frames    sixty-five 
and    sixty-six    on    starboard    side    below   main   deck   rail, 
made   by   a   6-pounder. 

6.  Lashing  of   port  whaleboat    davit   carried   away   by 
shot. 


OFFICIAL   STATEMENTS  325 

7.  One  of  the  rail  stanchions  carried   away  outside  of 
port  gangway. 

8.  Hull   of  ship    indented    on    starboard   side   one   foot 
below  maindeck  rail  and  three  feet  abaft  No.  4  coal  port. 

The  forward  8-inch  guns  fired  twenty-three  shells. 
The  ammunition  hoist  was  temporarily  out  of  commis 
sion  on  account  of  the  blowing  of  the  fuse.  The  right 
gun  worked  well  with  the  electrical  batteries.  Battery 
of  left  gun  failed  to  explode  the  primer  after  the  first 
shot;  also  resistance  lamp  in  dynamo  circuit  broken. 
Used  percussion  primers  in  this  gun  with  good  results 
after  the  first  shot. 

The  after  turret  fired  thirteen  shells.  Had  three  mis 
fires  with  battery  of  right  gun  and  two  with  dynamo  cir 
cuit,  as  fuses  blew  out.  In  renewing  the  fuses  they  were 
immediately  blown  out,  so  shifted  to  percussion  primers 
with  good  results.  In  left  gun  one  shell  jammed,  after 
which  used  half-full  and  half-reduced  charge,  which  fired 
it.  Battery  of  this  gun  gave  good  results.  One  primer 
failed  to  check  gas. 

The  smoke  from  the  5-inch  battery  and  from  the  for 
ward  8-inch  guns  gave  considerable  trouble,  and  in  both 
turrets  the  object  glass  of  the  telescopic  sights  became 
covered  with  a  deposit  from  the  powder  and  had  to  be 
wiped  off  frequently.  These  are,  nevertheless,  considered 
good  sights  for  heavy  guns;  but  it  is  recommended  that 
bar  sights  be  installed  in  case  of  emergency  as  there  is  no 
provision  for  sighting  other  than  with  the  telescopes. 

The  batteries  for  the  5-inch  guns  found  to  be  unreli 
able.  Used  dynamo  circuit  on  three  guns  with  good 


326  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

results.  Ammunition  poor.  Many  shells  became  detached 
from  the  cases  on  loading  and  had  to  be  rammed  out 
from  the  muzzle.  Several  cases  jammed  in  loading  and 
in  extracting.  Guns  and  gun  mounts  worked  well.  Fired 
about  two  hundred  and  eighty-one  5-inch  shells. 

The  6-pounder  battery  worked  to  perfection,  firing  one 
thousand  rounds.  Fired  three  hundred  and  sixty  rounds 
of  1-pounder  and  one  thousand  rounds  of  small-arm  am 
munition. 

From  9:42  P.M.  of  April  30  till  12:40  P.M.  of  May  1, 
two  divisions  of  the  engineer's  force  worked  the  boilers 
and  engines,  keeping  up  steam  and  working  well,  notwith 
standing  the  heat  of  the  fire  and  engine  rooms.  The 
third  division  worked  at  their  stations  in  the  powder 
division. 

The  ship  needs  no  immediate  repairs  and  is  in  excel 
lent  condition  to  engage  the  enemy  at  any  time. 

There  were  no  casualties  nor  wounded    on  this  ship. 

Where  every  officer  and  man  did  his  whole  duty  there 
is  only  room  for  general  praise.  Pay  Inspector  D.  A.  Smith, 
Fleet  Pay  Clerk  Wra.  J.  Rightmire,  and  Pay  Clerk  W.  M. 
Long  all  volunteered  for  and  performed  active  service  not 
required  by  their  stations.  Ensign  H.  H.  Caldwell,  secre 
tary  to  the  commander-in-chief,  volunteered  for  fighting 
duty  and  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  subdivision 
of  the  5-inch  battery.  Mr.  J.  L.  Stickney,  correspondent 
of  the  New  York  Herald  (and  formerly  a  naval  officer  of 
exceptional  ability),  served  as  a  volunteer  aid  to  the  com 
mander-in-chief  and  rendered  invaluable  assistance  in  car 
rying  messages  and  in  keeping  an  accurate  account  of 


OFFICIAL   STATEMENTS  329 

the  battle.  One  6-pounder  was  manned  by  a  crew  of  ma 
rines,  and  two  relief  crews  for  the  5-inch  guns  and  two 
for  the  6-pounders  acted  as  sharpshooters  under  Captain 
W.  Biddie,  U.  S.  M.  C. 

The    range   was    obtained    by    cross-bearings    from   the 
standard  compass  and  the  distance  taken  from  the  chart. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

CHARLES  V.  GRIDLEY, 
Captain  United   States   Navy,  Commanding  United  States 

Flagship   Olympia. 
THE  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, 

Asiatic  Station. 


FROM     CAPTAIN    DANIEL    B.    HODGSDON 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIP    McCuLLOCH,  ) 

MANILA    BAY,  May   3,  1898.  \ 

Sir:  —  Eegarding  the  part  taken  by  this  vessel  in  the 
naval  action  of  Manila  Bay  at  Cavite,  on  Sunday  morn 
ing,  May  1.  1898,  between  the  American  and  Spanish  forces, 
I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  :- 

Constituting  the  leading  vessel  of  the  reserve  squadron, 
the  McCulloch  was,  when  fire  opened,  advanced  as  closely 
as  was  advisable  in  rear  of  our  engaged  men  of  war,  in 
fact,  to  a  point  where  several  shells  struck  close  aboard 
and  others  passed  overhead,  and  kept  steaming  slowly 
to  and  fro,  ready  to  render  any  aid  in  her  power,  or 
respond  at  once  to  any  signal  from  the  Olympia.  A 
9-inch  hawser  was  gotten  up  and  run  aft,  should  assist 
ance  be  necessary  in  case  any  of  our  ships  grounded.  At 


380  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

a  later  hour  during  the  day,  just  prior  to  the  renewal  of 
the  attack  by  our  squadron,  I  intercepted  the  British 
mail  steamer  Esmeralda,  in  compliance  with  a  signal 
from  the  flagship,  communicated  to  her  commander  your 
orders  in  regard  to  his  movements,  and  then  proceeded 
to  resume  my  former  position  of  the  morning,  near  the 
fleet,  where  I  remained  until  the  surrender  of  the  enemy. 
I  desire  to  state  in  conclusion  that  I  was  ably  seconded 
by  the  officers  and  crew  of  my  command  in  every  effort 
made  to  be  in  a  state  of  readiness  to  carry  out  promptly 
any  orders  which  might  have  been  signaled  from  your 
flagship.  Respectfully  yours, 

DANIEL   B.  HODGSDON, 
Captain  R.  C.  S.,  Commanding. 
COMMODORE  GEORGE  DEWEY,  U.  S.  N., 

Commanding  United  States  Naval  Force  on  Asiatic 
Station. 

FROM     CAPTAIN     FRANK    WILDES 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIP  BOSTON,  SECOND   RATE,  ) 

PORT  CAVITE,  MANILA  BAY,  May  3,  1898.  \ 

Sir:  —  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report 
of  the  part  taken  by  this  vessel  in  the  late  action  with 
the  Spanish  fleet  on  the  morning  of  May  1  :  — 

At  daylight  the  merchant  ships  off  Manila  were  seen, 
and  soon  after  the  Spanish  fleet,  close  in  to  Cavite. 
This  vessel  was  the  sixth  in  the  column  and  brought  up 
the  rear.  Several  shots  were  fired  by  the  batteries  in 
Manila,  and  two  shots  were  given  in  reply.  At  5:35  A.  M. 
action  with  the  enemy  commenced  and  was  continued  at 


OFFICIAL    STATEMENTS  331 

varying  distances,  steaming  in  a  circle,  until  7:35  A.  M., 
firing  with  a  fair  degree  of  deliberation  and  accuracy. 
At  times  the  smoke  was  dense,  interfering  very  materially 
with  manoeuvring  and  firing. 

The  Spanish  fleet  and  shore  batteries  replied  vigor 
ously,  and  an  attempt  was  made  with  an  improvised  tor 
pedo  boat,  but  our  fire  was  overpowering,  and  the  enemy 
received  heavy  damage  and  loss. 

In  obedience  to  signal  I  withdrew  from  action  at  7:35, 
and  gave  the  crew  breakfast  and  rest. 

At  11:10  the  action  was  renewed,  and  continued  until 
the  enemy  ceased  firing  and  his  ships  were  all  burned, 
sunk,  or  withdrawn  behind  the  arsenal  of  Cavite. 

This  vessel  was  struck  four  times  by  enemy's  shot, 
doing  no  material  damage.  Our  own  fire  destroyed 
three  of  our  own  boats  and  badly  damaged  three 
others. 

No  casualties  occurred. 

The  conduct  of  officers  and  men  on  this  trying  oc 
casion  was  of  the  very  highest  quality,  and  they  bore 
themselves  with  courage  and  spirit,  and  entirely  to  my 
satisfaction.  It  also  gives  me  pleasure  to  bear  witness 
to  the  courage  and  resolution  of  the  Spanish  fleet,  and 
to  say  that  they  defended  themselves  creditably. 
Very  respectfully, 

FRANK   WILDES, 

Captain  U.  S.  N.,  Commanding. 
THE   COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, 

Commanding  United  States  Naval  Force  on  Asiatic 
Station. 


332  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

FROM    LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER    J.    A.    NORRIS 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIP  BOSTON,  SECOND  RATE, 

MANILA  BAY,  May  1,  1898. 

Sir:- — In  accordance  with  Article  No.  525,  United  States 
Navy  Regulations  of  1898,  I  have  the  honor  to  make 
the  following  report  of  the  noteworthy  incidents  which 
came  under  my  observation  on  board  the  ship  during 
the  engagement  this  day  with  the  Spanish  fleet  and  shore 
batteries  at  Cavite.  This  vessel  being  stationed  at  the 
rear  of  the  column,  did  not  come  into  action  until  after 
the  other  ships.  Firing  commenced  from  the  port  main 
battery  at  5:35,  and  continued  until  7:35  A.  M. 

The  guns  were  served  rapidly  and  well.  There  being 
no  quick  and  accurate  method  of  finding  the  range,  it 
was  found  that  a  considerable  number  of  shots  appar 
ently  fell  short.  Had  the  ship  been  provided  with  a 
range  finder  the  effectiveness  of  the  firing  would  have 
been  somewhat  increased;  as  it  was,  the  result  was  gen 
erally  good.  After  passing  the  enemy  a  countermarch 
was  made,  and  fire  was  opened  with  the  starboard  bat 
tery.  This  manoeuvre  was  repeated  several  times,  until 
the  enemy  seemed  to  be  silenced.  During  this  part  of 
the  engagement  full  charges  with  common  shell  were  used 
in  all  guns  of  the  main  battery.  The  guns  generally 
worked  well,  but  after  an  hour's  fighting  it  was  found 
that  most  of  the  breech  plugs  of  the  6-  and  8-inch  guns 
were  expanded  by  the  he'at,  so  as  to  make  it  a  somewhat 
difficult  operation  to  close  the  breech.  After  firing  the 
forward  8-inch  for  half  an  hour  it  was  found  necessary 
to  put  in  a  new  gas-check  pad,  and  the  firing  was  then 


WILLIAM    R.    DAY,    EX-SECRETARY  OF  STATE 


OFFICIAL    STATEMENTS  335 

continued.  The  wire  breechings  of  No.  2  six-inch  gun 
(starboard)  were  carried  away  near  the  end  of  the  firing. 
The  lock  of  No.  3  six-inch  (port)  was  disabled  and  a  spare 
one  substituted.  The  vent  of  the  port  after  6-inch  be 
came  choked  up  about  the  end  of  the  first  engagement, 
and  a  spare  mushroom  was  substituted.  At  7:35  the  fleet 
hauled  off  for  a  rest  and  consultation.  The  enemy's  ship 
Reina  Christina  and  the  smaller  vessels  had  withdrawn 
behind  the  point  and  were  on  fire.  The  Castilla  was  ap 
parently  aground.  This  latter  vessel  was  set  on  fire  and 
abandoned  by  the  enemy. 

The  action  was  resumed  at  11:10  A.  M.,  the  starboard 
battery  being  first  engaged.  The  reply  was  principally 
from  the  forts,  but  these  were  soon  silenced.  Advantage 
had  been  taken  of  the  interval  to  put  the  battery  in 
order  again.  The  breechings  on  No.  2  six-inch  were  re 
placed  by  the  gunner's  mate  of  the  division.  The  guns 
were  still  very  hot,  and  the  breech  plugs  became  still 
harder  to  work.  The  forward  8-inch  gun  was  put  out  of 
commission  for  about  twenty  minutes  from  this  cause.  At 
12:20  P.M.  the  ship  was  turned  around  and  the  port  bat 
tery  brought  into  play.  At  12:40  " Cease  firing"  was 
sounded,  a  white  flag  having  been  raised  at  Cavite. 

During  the  whole  engagement  the  ammunition  supply 
was  kept  up  in  a  highly  efficient  manner.  As  soon  as  a 
gun  was  fired,  another  charge  was  on  hand.  It  was  in 
tensely  hot  on  the  berth  deck  and  in  the  magazine  and  shell 
rooms.  Several  of  the  after  powder  divisions  were  tempor 
arily  disabled  from  this  cause  and  men  had  to  be  taken  from 
the  second  and  third  divisions  to  fill  their  places.  .  .  . 


336  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

The  following  very  slight  injuries  resulted  from  the 
enemy's  fire:  Four-inch  shell  pierced  foremast  thirteen 
feet  seven  inches  above  the  upper  deck,  going  through 
from  starboard  to  port,  cutting  one  swifter  of  standing 
rigging  on  port  side ;  one  2-inch  shell  pierced  turtle- 
back  five  feet  forward  of  port  amidship  6-inch  gun,  five 
feet  from  gun  deck ;  one  2-inch  shell  pierced  ship's  side 
fourteen  inches  above  load  line,  passing  through  state 
room  No.  5,  on  port  side,  exploding  berth  and  drawers; 
one  2-inch  shot  pierced  the  outside  shell  of  hammock 
netting  on  port  side  abreast  after  end  of  chart  room, 
exploding  on  inside  among  some  men's  clothing,  setting 
it  on  fire ;  a  shell  grazed  after  part  of  the  main  top 
mast,  just  above  the  lower  cap. 

The  discharge  of  the  after  8-inch  gun,  when  it  was 
pivoted  to  port  and  fired  across  the  deck,  caused  great 
damage  in  the  rooms  below  on  the  port  side;  the  seams 
of  the  deck  were  opened  to  some  extent. 

Toward  the  end  of  the  first  period  of  firing  the 
electric-bell  system  of  communication  with  the  central 
station  became  partially  disabled,  the  shock  of  the  dis 
charge  breaking  the  wires. 

The  ship's  boats  were  covered  with  canvas,  with  their 
sails  disposed  on  the  inboard  side.  They  received  injuries 
from  the  discharge  of  guns  in  their  vicinity  as  follows:  — 

First  whaleboat — Side  blown  out  and  back  broken; 
complete  wreck. 

First  cutter — Starboard  quarter  blown  off;  eight  tim 
bers  and  gunwale  broken;  planking  all  over  opened  and 
split;  complete  wreck. 


OFFICIAL    STATEMENTS  337 

Second  cutter — Five  planks  blown  out;  bow  timbers 
started,  bow  sagged ;  stern  timbers  broken  away  from 
fastenings  and  planking  started;  seams  all  opened;  com 
plete  wreck. 

Third  cutter— Whole  port  quarter  broken  from  fasten 
ings  ;  can  be  repaired  on  board. 

Sailing  launch — Whole  starboard  strake  on  port  side 
blown  off ;  one  after  frame  broken ;  can  be  repaired  on 
board. 

Dingy  —  Calking  started  ;   can   be  repaired  on   board. 

Steam  launch  —  Starboard  side  three  planks  blown  off 
bow ;  wood  ends  started  from  stem ;  deck  planks  started ; 
boat  spread ;  planking  on  starboard  side  started  from 
fastenings  ;  calking  generally  started ;  cannot  be  repaired 
on  board. 

There  were  no  casualties  among  the  crew.  The  shell 
which  pierced  the  foremast  did  not  explode,  but  scat 
tered  small  pieces  of  iron  from  the  mast  which  slightly 
scratched  one  or  two  of  the  occupants  of  the  bridge. 

Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise  of  the  conduct  of 
the  officers  and  men  who  came  under  my  observation. 
Very  few,  if  any,  of  them  had  ever  been  under  fire  be 
fore,  but  their  coolness  was  remarkable.  They  were 
full  of  zeal,  energy,  and  enthusiasm,  and  were  untiring. 
Where  the  conduct  of  all  was  so  commendable  it  would 
be  impossible  to  single  out  any  individual  for  special 
praise.  One  noteworthy  feature  was  the  conduct  of  the 
Chinese  messmen  who  were  stationed  in  the  after  powder 
division.  While  they  are  usually  considered  alien  in 
their  ideas  and  are  not  regarded  as  good  fighters,  yet  in 

D.— 22 


338  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

this  case  they  displayed  as  much  zeal,  bravery,  and  en 
ergy  as  any  other  person.  The  uninterrupted  ammuni 
tion  supply  in  the  after  part  of  the  ship  was  largely 
due  to  their  efforts. 

The  three  men,  William  Woods,  seaman,  Charles  W. 
Lenderman  and  William  R.  White,  apprentices,  first  class, 
sentenced  by  general  court-martial  to  terms  of  imprison 
ment  and  who  were  made  prisoners  at  large  the  day  be 
fore  the  engagement,  displayed  the  same  zeal,  bravery, 
and  energy  which  characterized  the  remainder  of  the 
crew.  Very  respectfully 

J.  A.  NORRIS, 

Lieutenant-Commander  U.  S.  N.,  Executive  Officer. 
THE  COMMANDING  OFFICER, 

United  States  Steamship  Boston,  Second  Rate,  Manila 
Bay. 


FROM    CAPTAIN    NEHEMIAH    M.    DYER 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIP  BALTIMORE, 
MANILA,  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS,  May  4,  1898. 

Sir:  —  I  have  the  honor  to  make  the  following  report, 
as  required  by  Article  437,  Navy  Regulations,  of  the  en 
gagement  of  this  ship  with  the  Spanish  fleet  and  shore 
batteries  at  Sangley  Point,  Cavite  Bay,  on  the  first  in 
stant  :  - 

At  early  daylight  the  fleet  had  reached  a  point  close 
up  to  the  shipping  off  the  city  of  Manila,  when  the  sig 
nal  was  made,  "  Prepare  for  general  action."  Spanish 
batteries  near  old  Manila  opened  fire  at  long  range  at 


OFFICIAL   STATEMENTS  341 

about  the  same  time.  Flagship  leading,  with  port  helm, 
bore  down  on  the  right  of  Spanish  line  of  vessels,  formed 
in  a  somewhat  irregular  crescent  at  anchor,  extending  from 
off  Sangley  Point  to  the  northeast,  and  in  readiness  to  re 
ceive  us,  their  left  supported  by  the  batteries  on  Sangley  Point. 

Following  your  lead  in  close  order,  our  fire  com 
menced  with  the  port  battery  at  about  5:40  A.  M.,  at  a 
distance  of  about  six  thousand  yards. 

Our  column  passed  down  the  enemy's  line,  turning 
with  port  helm  as  their  left  was  reached,  engaging  them 
with  starboard  battery  on  the  return.  This  manoeuvre 
was  performed  three  times  at  distances  from  the  enemy's 
ships  varying  from  two  thousand  six  hundred  to  five 
thousand  yards,  when  you  signaled,  "Withdraw  from  ac 
tion,"  at  7:35. 

Upon  reaching  a  convenient  distance  in  the  bay,  you 
signaled,  "Let  the  people  go  to  breakfast";  and  at  8:40, 
"  Commanding  officers  repair  on  board  the  flagship." 

While  on  board  the  flagship  I  received  an  order  to 
intercept  a  steamer  coming  up  the  bay,  reported  to  be 
flying  Spanish  colors. 

Soon  after  starting  on  this  duty  I  discovered  the 
colors  of  the  stranger  to  be  British,  and  so  reported  by 
signal,  you  having  in  the  meantime  made  general  signal 
to  get  under  way  and  follow  your  motions,  this  ship  be 
ing  at  the  time  some  two  miles  to  the  south-southwest 
of  the  flagship  on  her  way  to  intercept  the  supposed 
Spanish  steamer. 

At  10:55  you  made  general  signal  "Designated  vessel 
will  lead,"  with  Baltimore's  distinguishing  pennant,  and  in 


342  LIFE   OF   ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

a  few  minutes  signal  to  "Attack  the  enemy's  batteries 
or  earthworks,"  and  for  the  fleet  to  "Close  up";  in  obe 
dience  to  which  order  this  ship  led  in,  with  starboard 
helm,  to  a  position  off  the  Canacao  and  Sangley  Point 
batteries  and  opened  fire  with  starboard  battery  at  a  dis 
tance  of  about  two  thousand  eight  hundred  yards,  closing 
in  to  two  thousand  two  hundred,  between  which  and  two 
thousand  seven  hundred  yards  our  best  work  was  done, 
slowing  the  ship  dead  slow,  stopping  the  engines  as  range 
was  obtained,  delivering  a  rapid  and  accurate  fire  upon 
the  shore  batteries  and  gunboat  just  inside  of  Sangley 
Point,  since  proven  to  have  been  the  Don  Antonio  de 
Ulloa,  practically  silencing  the  batteries  in  question  be 
fore  the  fire  of  another  ship  became  effective,  owing  to 
the  lead  we  had  obtained  in  our  start  for  the  supposed 
Spanish  steamer. 

The  fire  of  ships  and  batteries  having  been  silenced 
and  the  white  flag  displayed  on  the  arsenal  buildings 
at  Cavite,  you  signaled,  at  1:20,  "Prepare  to  anchor," 
and  at  1:30,  "Anchor  at  discretion." 

The  victory   was   complete. 

The  wind  was  light  and  variable  during  the  first 
engagement  and  from  the  northeast ;  force  two  to  three 
during  the  second. 

The  firing  devices  gave  considerable  trouble,  extractors, 
sear  springs,  and  firing  pins  bending  and  breaking,  and 
wedge  blocks  jamming.  Electric  firing  attachments  gave 
trouble  by  the  grease  and  dirt  incident  to  firing  in 
sulating  the  connections,  so  much  so  that  shortly  after 
the  engagement  commenced  they  were  abandoned  for 


OFFICIAL    STATEMENTS  343 

percussion ;    but    coolness    and   steadiness    replaced   defec 
tive   parts   in   the   shortest   possible   time. 

The  ammunition  supply  was  ample,  and  the  test  was 
conclusive  so  long  as  electric  hoists  were  uninjured. 

The  behavior  of  officers  and  men  was  beyond  all  praise. 
The  accuracy  and  rapidity  of  their  fire  you  were  an  eye 
witness  of.  The  steadiness  and  cool  bearing  of  all  on  board 
who  came  under  my  own  observation  was  that  of  veterans. 

The  fact  that  the  ship  was  so  rarely  hit  gave  few 
opportunities  for  conspicuous  acts  of  heroism  or  daring,  but 
the  enthusiasm  and  cool  steadiness  of  the  men  gave  promise 
that  they  would  have  been  equal  to  any  emergency. 

I  shall  report  later  such  detail  of  individual  merit 
as  has  been  mentioned  by  officers  of  divisions  or  that 
came  under  my  own  observation. 

I  inclose   (a)   report  of  executive   officer;   (b)   surgeon's 
report   of    casualties;    (c)    carpenter's    report   of   damages; 
(d)   report   of  ammunition   expended. 
Very   respectfully, 

NEHEMIAH  M.  DYER, 
Captain  U.  S.  N.,  Commanding. 
THE  COMMANDER  IN  CHIEF, 

United  States  Naval  Force,  Asiatic  Station. 


FROM    LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER    JOHN  B.  BRIGGS 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIP  BALTIMORE,  ) 

OFF  MAXILA,  May  3,  1898.    \ 

Sir:  —  In  compliance  with  Article  525,  United  States 
Navy  Regulations,  I  have  the  following  report  to  submit 
of  the  action  of  May  1,  at  Cavite. 


344  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

The  Baltimore  was  engaged  twice  during  the  day  in  com 
pany  with  the  other  vessels  of  the  squadron.  The  action 
of  the  battery  and  the  conduct  of  all  connected  with  it 
and  its  service  were  admirable.  It  is  difficult  to  discrim 
inate  where  coolness  and  efficiency  prevailed  throughout 
the  ship's  company.  The  spirit  and  readiness  of  all  were 
in  the  highest  degree  commendable.  The  service  of  the 
guns  and  the  delivery  of  ammunition  were  most  prompt, 
and  the  experience  has  indicated  to  me  that  when  oc 
casion  demands,  the  supply  of  ammunition  is  sufficient 
to  meet  all  probable  wants. 

The  Baltimore  was  struck  five  times,  with  small  pro 
jectiles,  all  of  which,  with  one  exception,  exploded  or 
broke  up.  The  most  serious  hit,  happily  attended  with  no 
serious  injury  to  any  officer  or  man,  came  from  a  4.7-inch 
steel  projectile,  which  entered  the  ship's  side  forward  of 
the  starboard  gangway,  about  a  foot  above  the  line  of  the 
main  deck.  It  passed  through  the  hammock  netting, 
downward  through  the  deck  planks  and  steel  deck,  bend 
ing  and  cracking  deck  beam  in  wardroom  stateroom 
No.  5,  then  glanced  upward  through  the  after  engine 
room  coaming,  over  against  the  after  cylinder  of  No.  3 
6-inch  gun  (port),  carrying  away  lug  and  starting  several 
shield  bolts,  and  putting  the  gun  out  of  commission ; 
deflected  over  the  starboard  side,  striking  a  ventilator 
ladder  and  dropping  on  deck.  In  its  passage  it  struck  a 
box  of  3-pounder  ammunition  of  the  fourth  division,  ex 
ploding  several  charges,  and  wounded  Lieutenant  Kellogg, 
Ensign  Irwin,  and  six  men  of  the  gun's  crew,  none  very 
seriously.  A  second  shot  came  in  about  a  foot  above 


OFFICIAL    STATEMENTS  345 

the  berth  deck,  just  forward  of  the  blowers,  passed  through 
the  'thwart-ship  alleyway,  hitting  the  exhaust  pipe  of 
the  starboard  blower,  causing  a  slight  leak.  A  third  shot 
struck  about  two  feet  above  the  water  line  on  the  port 
side,  abreast  bunker  B-110,  passed  into  the  bunker,  cutting 
blower  drain  and  main  air  duct,  and  exploding  in  bunker. 
A  fourth  shot  came  in  about  six  feet  above  the  berth 
deck,  starboard  side,  abreast  the  forward  end  of  the  for 
ward  washroom,  and  broke  up  in  a  clothes  locker.  A  fifth 
struck  the  starboard  forward  ventilator,  slightly  bending  it. 

The  upper  cabin  skylight,  the  after  range  finder,  and 
the  two  whaleboats  hanging  at  the  davits  were  all  de 
stroyed  by  the  shock  of  discharge  from  the  8-inch  guns 
of  the  second  division. 

The  holes  in  the  port  side  were  temporarily  plugged 
with  leak  stoppers  and  afterwards  patched  with  rubber 
and  iron  patches. 

No.  4  gun  was  gotten  ready  for  use  by  the  afternoon 
of  May  2,  Ensign  N.  E.  Irwin  devoting  intelligent  per 
sonal  efforts  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  work. 

JOHN  B.  BRIGGS, 

Lieutenant-Commander  U.  S.  N.,  Executive  Officer. 
THE  COMMANDING  OFFICER. 


FROM    CAPTAIN    JOSEPH    B.    COGHLAN 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIP  RALEIGH,  ) 

OFF  MANILA,  LUZON,  May  4,  1898.  f 

Sir:  —  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report 
of  the  operations  of  this  vessel  of  your  squadron  during 


346  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

the  engagement  with  the  Spanish  squadron  and  shore 
batteries  at  Cavite,  near  Manila/on  the  morning  of  May 
1,  1898:- 

At  about  12:10  A.  M.  of  May  1,  when  passing  in  col 
umn,  natural  order,  abreast  of  El  Fraile  Island,  at  the 
entrance  to  the  bay,  I  observed  a  flash,  as  of  a  signal 
thereon,  and  at  about  12:15  A.  M.  a  shot  was  fired  from  El 
Fraile,  passing,  as  I  think,  diagonally  between  the  Petrel 
and  this  vessel.  A  shot  was  fired  in  return,  but  with 
out  effect,  by  the  starboard  after  5-inch  gun  of  this 
vessel. 

At  5  A.  M.,  when  the  squadron  was  nearly  abreast 
the  city  of  Manila,  and  the  flagship  was  turning  to  pass 
down  toward  Cavite,  the  Lunetta  battery,  of  apparently 
heavy  guns,  at  Manila,  opened  fire  and  continued  so  long 
as  the  squadron  was  in  action.  This  vessel  shifted  position 
from  starboard  to  port  (inside)  quarter  of  the  Baltimore, 
and  held  that  position  until  retired  at  7:35  A.  M.  At  a 
few  minutes  after  5  A.  M.  this  vessel,  so  soon  as  the  Span 
ish  vessels  at  Cavite  bore  on  the  port  bow,  opened  fire  with 
the  6-inch  gun,  and  then  with  the  5-inch  guns  in  suc 
cession,  as  fast  as  they  would  bear.  The  secondary  bat 
tery  guns  did  not  seem  to  reach  the  enemy,  and  their 
fire  was  soon  stopped  and  not  again  used  until  the  dis 
tance  was  considerably  lessened.  At  11:20  A.  M.,  when 
signal  was  made  to  re-engage,  this  vessel  started  ahead 
full  speed  (using  reserve  speed)  to  keep  up  with  the  flag 
ship,  but  it  was  found  to  be  impossible,  and  falling  be 
hind  all  the  time,  I  cut  across  to  gain  line  abreast  of 
Cavite  battery  just  as  the  flagship  passed  the  Baltimore 


OFFICIAL   STATEMENTS  347 

at  that  port,  at  which  time  we  opened  fire  with  all  guns. 
At  12:00,  in  obedience  to  signal,  this  vessel  attempted 
to  get  into  the  inner  harbor  to  destroy  the  enemy's  ves 
sels,  but  getting  into  shoal  water  —  twenty  feet  —  was 
obliged  to  withdraw,  and  so  reported.  While  attempting 
to  get  inside,  the  battery  was  used  on  a  vessel  of  the 
enemy  at  anchor  (supposed  to  be  the  Don  Antonio  de 
Ulloa)  until  she  sank.  Not  being  able  to  find  a  channel 
farther  inside,  and  everything  in  sight  having  been 
destroyed,  this  vessel  at  1:30  P.  M.  withdrew  and 
later  anchored  near  the  flagship.  I  inclose  a  state 
ment  of  the  ammunition  expended  during  the  engage 
ment. 

I  am  very  pleased  to  report  that  the  officers  and  crew 
behaved  splendidly.  Each  and  every  one  seemed  anxious 
to  do  his  whole  duty,  and,  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  did  it. 
Their  whole  conduct  was  beyond  praise. 

This  vessel  was  struck  but  once,  and  then  by  a 
6-pounder  shell,  which  passed  through  both  sides  of  the 
whaleboat  (above  her  water  line),  and  then  glanced  along 
the  chase  of  the  starboard  6-pounder  on  our  poop.  The 
gun  was  not  injured,  and  the  whaleboat  but  slightly,  and 
she  is  again  ready  for  service. 

I  am  happy  to  report  that  there  were  no  casualties 
of  any  kind. 

This  vessel  at  the  close  of  the  engagement  was  in  as 
good  condition  as  when  it  began,  and  without  any  prep 
aration  could  have  fought  it  over  again. 

In  conclusion,  permit  me  to  congratulate  you  upon  the 
very  brilliant  victory  you  achieved  over  a  naval  force 


348  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

nearly  equal  to  your  own  and  backed  by  extensive  shore 
batteries  of  very  heavy  guns,  and  this  without  the  loss 
of  a  single  life.  History  points  to  no  greater  achieve 
ment.  Very  respectfully, 

JOSEPH   B.  COGHLAN, 
Captain   U.  S.  N.,  Commanding. 
COMMODORE   GEORGE   DEWEY,  U.  S.  K, 

Commander-in-Chief   United   States   Naval   Force,  Asi 
atic   Station. 


FROM    COMMANDER    EDWARD    P.  WOOD 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIP  PETREL, 

MANILA  BAY,  May  4,  1898. 

Sir: — I  respectfully  report  as  follows  concerning  my 
share  in  the  action  fought  by  the  fleet  under  your  com 
mand  in  Manila  Bay,  off  Cavite,  on  the  morning  of  May 
1,  1898:- 

The  ship  had  been  partly  cleared  for  action  at  Hong- 
Kong  and  on  the  run  to  Manila.  Went  to  quarters  for 
action  at  9:45  P.  M.  of  April  30th,  and  all  preparations 
were  completed.  Hammocks  were  not  piped  down,  but 
men  were  allowed  to  sleep  at  their  guns. 

The  position  of  the  Petrel  was  fourth  from  head  of 
column,  astern  of  Raleigh,  and  ahead  of  Concord.  We 
passed  in  through  Boca  Grande,  about  one  mile  from  El 
Fraile.  All  lights  were  masked  and  only  stern  lights 
showing.  At  11:10  a  rocket  and  light  were  shown  from 
Corregidor  Island,  and  just  as  the  Raleigh  and  Petrel  came 
abreast  El  Fraile  three  shots  were  fired  from  a  shore 


EX-UNITED  STATES    MINISTER  TO  MADRID,  SPAIN 


OFFICIAL    STATEMENTS  351 

battery  on  the  rock,  these  being  promptly  replied  to  by 
the  Raleigh,  Concord,  and  Boston.  We  steamed  slowly  up 
the  bay,  and  just  as  day  was  breaking,  about  five  o'clock, 
the  shore  batteries  below  Manila  began  firing.  It  was 
scarcely  light  enough  to  distinguish  signals  from  this 
vessel  when  flagship  made  signal,  "  Prepare  for  action," 
so  signal  was  repeated  from  the  Baltimore.  During  time 
column  was  forming  and  closing  up,  the  batteries  from 
below  Manila  were  firing.  As  flagship  stood  to  south 
ward  the  ships  and  batteries  at  Cavite  began  their  fir 
ing,  and  gradually,  as  we  approached,  we  could  make  out 
ships  under  way  in  harbor  and  three  guns  on  shore  firing. 
The  battery  of  this  vessel  began  firing  at  5 : 22  by  the 
deck  clock  at  a  range  of  five  thousand  yards. 

The  column  circled  three  times  from  east  to  west  in 
front  of  shore,  standing  in  a  little  nearer  each  time,  the 
first  time  being  three  thousand  yards,  and  the  third  time 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  yards.  During  these  three 
rounds  this  vessel  expended  ninety-two  6-inch  common 
shells,  eighty-two  6-inch  full  charges,  ten  reduced  charges, 
and  two  hundred  and  fifty-three  3-pounders.  Several 
times  during  rounds  had  to  cease  firing  on  account  of 
smoke  and  in  order  to  economize  ammunition.  The 
greater  part  of  our  great-gun  fire  was  at  the  Reina  Chris 
tina  and  Cast-ilia,  the  former  steaming  around  the  harbor 
and  the  latter  anchored  about  five  hundred  yards  off 
Sangley  Point ;  but  the  other  and  smaller  vessels  wTere 
fired  at  when  opportunity  offered.  Especially  was  the 
fire  of  the  rapid-fire  guns  aimed  at  a  yellow  launch, 
which  was  apparently  a  torpedo  boat  trying  to  turn  our 


352  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

flank.  The  navigator,  Lieutenant  B.  A.  Fiske,  was  sta 
tioned  in  the  top,  with  a  stadimeter,  to  determine  the 
distance  and  report  upon  the  efficiency  of  the  fire. 

At  7:30  we  ceased  firing  and  withdrew  from  action 
in  obedience  to  a  signal  from  flagship  to  fleet  to  that 
effect.  The  men  were  given  their  breakfasts.  While 
withdrawing  the  enemy  continued  firing  until  we  were 
well  out  of  range,  and  the  batteries  below  Manila  were 
firing  at  intervals  during  breakfast.  At  11:20,  when  the 
signal  was  made  to  get  under  way,  the  Petrel  followed 
the  Olympia  and  stood  well  in.  While  steaming  across 
the  fire  the  signal  was  hoisted  for  the  Petrel  to  pass  in 
side. 

This  vessel  left  her  station,  passed  outside  of  Baltimore, 
and  rounded  Sangley  Point  about  five  hundred  yards  out 
side  of  where  the  Castillo,  was  burning.  The  fire  was 
then  directed  at  the  Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa,  and  when  it  was 
found  that  she  was  sinking  and  deserted  the  ship  passed 
farther  inside  and  opened  fire  upon  the  ships  behind  inner 
breakwater  and  whose  masts  were  seen  above  government 
buildings.  During  the  firing  on  the  Ulloa  a  white  flag 
with  a  Geneva  cross  was  discovered  in  range  with  her, 
and  I  stood  in  further  so  as  to  get  it  out  of  range.  After 
the  first  two  or  three  shots  fired  through  the  public  build 
ing  at  ships  behind  the  mole,  the  Spanish  flag  was,  at 
12:30  P.M.,  hauled  down  and  a  white  flag  run  up.  The 
surrender  was  immediately  signaled  to  fleet,  and  firing 
ceased. 

In  obedience  to  a  signal  from  flagship  to  destroy  all 
ships  in  the  harbor,  Lieutenant  Hughes  was  sent  with  a 


OFFICIAL   STATEMENTS  355 

whaleboat's  crew  of  seven  men  (this  whaleboat  being  the 
only  one  on  the  ship  which  would  float)  and  set  fire  to 
the  Don  Juan  de  Austria,  Isla  de  Cuba,  Isla  de  Luzon,  Gen 
eral  Lezo,  and  Marques  del  Duero.  Afterwards  Ensign  Fer- 
mier  was  sent  to  set  fire  to  the  Velasco  and  El  Correo. 
The  Isla  de  Cuba,  Isla  de  Luzon,  and  Don  Juan  de  Austria 
were  aground  and  full  of  water  when  they  were  fired. 
Their  outboard  valves  were  opened  and  the  ships  allowed 
to  fill.  The  breech  plugs  of  4-inch  guns  had  been  taken 
off  and  could  not  be  found.  During  the  night  the  maga 
zines  of  the  Don  Juan  de  Austria  blew  up.  The  Manila 
was  not  burned  because  the  Spanish  officers  begged  that 
she  be  not  destroyed  because  she  was  unarmed  and  a 
coast-survey  vessel.  Lieutenant  Fiske  and  Passed  Assist 
ant  Engineer  Hall  raised  steam  on  the  ship  this  morning, 
the  4th  instant,  and  brought  her  out.  At  the  time  she  was 
aground.  The  Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa  was  sunk  and  the  Eeina 
Christina  and  Castilla  were  burning  in  outer  harbor. 

Lieutenant  Fiske  was  sent  ashore  and  brought  off  two 
tugboats,  the  Eapido  and  Hercules,  and  three  steam  launches. 

I  was  anchored  in  Cavite  harbor  from  12:50  to  5:20 
P.  M.,  when  I  got  under  way  and  returned  to  the  fleet. 

There  were  no  casualties  or  accidents  of  any  kind,  the 
ship  having  been  struck  only  once  just  beneath  hawse 
pipe  by  a  piece  of  shell,  which  burst  as  it  sank  and 
threw  a  column  of  water  over  the  forecastle. 

After  the  white  flag  was  displayed,  there  was  appar 
ently  the  greatest  confusion  in  the  arsenal.  Parts  of  the 
crews  of  the  various  ships  were  there,  and  all  were  armed 
and  were  constantly  falling  in  and  moving  about;  yet 


356  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

there  was  no  evidence  of  any  desire  to  continue  the  fight 
ing,  and  instead  of  an}7  resistance  being  offered  to  the 
destruction  of  the  ships,  they  were  rather  inclined  to  as 
sist  with  their  advice,  and  evinced  a  desire  to  surrender 
to  the  first  officer  they  met. 

The  action  of  ammunition  was  exceedingly  good.  There 
were  expended  during  action  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
6-inch  common  shells,  three  6-inch  armor-piercing  shells, 
eighty-two  6-inch  full  charges,  thirty-four  6-inch  reduced 
charges,  and  three  hundred  and  thirteen  3-pounder  ammu 
nition.  Owing  to  the  heat  due  to  firing,  the  pads  swelled 
and  made  it  very  difficult  to  lock  the  breech  plug.  Noth 
ing  would  remedy  this  save  shifting  plugs,  replacing  hot 
plug  by  the  one  from  the  other  gun  which  was  cool.  The 
wedge  of  firing  lock  jammed  frequently,  due  to  hot  parts. 
This  was  remedied  by  shifting  locks. 

The  percussion  primers  worked  very  unsatisfactorily ; 
sometimes  four  primers  would  be  expended  before  one 
would  act.  Primers  leaked  badly,  causing  excessive  de 
posit  in  primer  seat,  hard  extraction  and  delay  in  prim 
ing  of  gun,  and  requiring  frequent  boring  of  vent. 

The  action  of  no  one  can  be  censured,  the  conduct  of 
each  and  every  officer  and  man  being  excellent.  There 
wras  no  confusion;  I  should  say  less  than  at  ordinary 
target  practice. 

The  loading  was  rapidly  done  and  the  firing  was  de 
liberate.  Due  to  your  caution  to  commanding  officers 
that  no  ammunition  should  be  wasted,  Lieutenant  Plunk- 
ett  fired  the  forward  6-inch  guns  and  Ensign  Fermier 
the  after  ones,  and  the  work  was  thoroughly  done.  Lieu- 


OFFICIAL  STATEMENTS  359 

tenant  Hughes  stationed  himself  on  the  poop,  as  it  was 
deemed  essential  that  he  should  not  be  with  the  com 
manding  officer  on  the  bridge.  He  materially  assisted 
Ensign  Fermier  by  observing  fall  of  shot  and  tendering 
advice  regarding  pointing. 

I  wish  particularly  to  call  to  your  attention  Lieutenant 
Hughes,  his  gallantry  in  taking  a  boat's  crew  of  seven 
men  and  in  the  face  of  a  large  armed  force  on  shore, 
setting  fire  to  the  five  ships  before  mentioned.  He  was 
aware  that  he  had  the  only  boat  in  the  ship  which 
would  float,  until  the  steam  whaleboat  could  be  prepared. 

Lieutenant  Fiske  stationed  himself  on  the  fore  cross- 
trees  with  stadimeter  to  measure  the  range  and  report 
on  the  fall  of  shots.  He  also  took  charge  of  the  steam 
whaleboat  to  cover  Lieutenant  Hughes  in  his  operations 
in  burning  the  ships. 

Lieutenant  Wood  had  charge  of  the  powder  division, 
assisted  in  the  after  part  by  Assistant  Paymaster  Seibels. 
There  was  at  no  time  a  halt  in  the  firing  due  to  failure 
of  the  powder  division. 

Ensign  Montgomery  was  in  charge  of  the  signals,  and 
materially  assisted  me  on  the  bridge.  He  also  directed 
the  fire  of  the  forward  8-pounder  when  it  was  allowed 
to  be  fired.  He  also  afforded  assistance  to  Lieutenant 
Plunkett  by  observing  the  fall  of  shots  from  the  forward 
6-inch  guns. 

I  desire  also  to  mention  the  efficient  service  of  the 
engines.  In  order  to  maintain  our  position  and  to  take 
advantage  of  every  opportunity,  the  engine  telegraph  was 
in  constant  use  from  full  speed  to  stop,  and  the  engine 


360  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

never  failed  to  respond  in  the  quickest  time  possible. 
This  I  consider  to  be  due  to  the  high  state  of  efficiency 
of  that  department,  and  the  whole  credit  is  due  to 
Passed  Assistant  Engineer  Hall. 

I  can  make  no  statement  regarding  the  services  of 
Passed  Assistant  Surgeon  Browne!  1,  as  the  Petrel  was 
most  fortunate  in  having  no  casualties. 

I  inclose  the  report  of  the  executive  officer. 

Very  respectfully,  E.  P.  WOOD, 

Commander  U.  S.  N.,  Commanding. 
THE   COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, 

United   States   Naval   Force,  Asiatic   Station. 


FROM    LIEUTENANT    EDWARD    M.   HUGHES 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIP  PETREL, 

OFF  CAVITE,  MANILA  BAY,  May  2,  1898. 

Sir: — In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  Article 
525,  United  States  Navy  Regulations,  I  have  the  honor  to 
submit  the  following  report  concerning  the  part  taken 
by  this  vessel  in  the  general  action  fought  yesterday  off 
Cavite,  in  Manila  Bay :  - 

The  ship  was  gradually  cleared  for  action,  this  work 
having  been  begun  in  Hong-Kong,  when  the  fore  and  fore- 
topsail  yards,  foretrysail  gaff,  ladders,  diving  outfit,  part  of 
the  running  rigging,  etc.,  were  placed  on  board  the  trans 
port  Nanshan,  and  completed  the  day  before  the  squadron 
entered  Manila  Bay.  In  the  operation  of  preparing  the 
ship  for  action  certain  articles  and  material  in  the  equip 
ment  and  construction  departments  were  necessarily  thrown 


OFFICIAL  STATEMENTS  361 

overboard.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  all  of  the 
varnishes,  inflammable  paints  and  oils,  tar,  turpentine,  etc., 
lumber,  two  boats'  strong  backs,  one  turpentine  chest,  one 
ice  chest,  one  large  hammock  box,  the  carpenter's  bench, 
etc.  During  the  action  the  discharge  of  the  after  6-inch 
guns  shattered  the  gig  and  first  whaleboat  and  they  were 
cut  adrift,  carrying  with  them  their  outfits  complete. 
These  boats  have  been  temporarily  replaced  by  two  taken 
from  the  enemy. 

No  description  of  the  manoeuvres  during  the  action  is 
included  in  this  report.  As  regards  the  Petrel,  the  first 
shot  was  fired  at  5:22  A.M.  and  the  last  one,  before  haul 
ing  off  for  breakfast,  was  fired  at  7:80  A.M.  The  times 
of  beginning  and  finishing  the  firing  during  the  second 
part  of  the  action  were,  respectively,  11:30  A.M.  and  12:30 
P.  M.,  at  which  latter  time  the  Spanish  flag  on  the  arsenal 
sheers  in  Cavite  was  hauled  down. 

The  return  of  ammunition  expended  will  be  made  by 
the  ordnance  officer;  but,  approximately,  about  one-third 
of  the  entire  supply  on  board  for  the  6-inch  guns  was  ex 
pended,  including  a  large  proportion  of  common  shell  and 
full  charges.  So  far  as  could  be  observed,  the  fuses  acted 
exceedingly  well,  all  the  shell  bursting.  Some  complaint 
was  made  by  the  officers  commanding  gun  divisions  that 
the  primers  frequently  failed,  both  electric  and  percus 
sion. 

The  bearing  of  all  on  board  was  satisfactory  in  the 
extreme,  and  I  can  specially  call  attention  to  no  one  in 
this  connection.  With  little  excitement,  a  quiet  enthu 
siasm  and  the  utmost  steadiness  prevailed  throughout 


362  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

the    ship's   company.      The   practice   of    the   gun   captains 
was   excellent,  being  both  deliberate  and  precise. 

After  the  action  was  over,  in  obedience  to  your  instruc 
tions,  boats'  crews  from  this  vessel  burned  the  following 
Spanish  ships  lying  in  Cavite  harbor:  The  protected 
cruisers  Don  Juan  de  Austria,  1,160  tons  ;  Isla  de  Luzon,  1,050 
tons;  Isla  de  Cuba,  1,050  tons;  the  gunboats  General  Lezo, 
520  tons ;  Marques  del  Duero,  500  tons ;  El  Correo,  and  one 
(not  engined)  name  unknown. 

On  rejoining  the  squadron,  the  Petrel  towed  from  Cavite 
to  the  anchorage  off  Manila,  two  small  tugs  —  the  Eapido 
and  Hercules — and  three  steam  launches,  which  were  this 
morning  turned  over  to  the  flagship. 

No  casualties  occurred  on  board.  The  vessel  was  not 
hit,  save  for  a  scratch  on  the  stem,  and  no  repairs  will  be 
necessary.  That  part  of  the  equipment  sacrificed  in  clear 
ing  for  action  should  be  replaced. 

Very  respectfully, 

EDWARD  M.  HUGHES, 
Lieutenant  U.  S.  N.,  Executive  Officer. 
THE  COMMANDING  OFFICER, 

United  States  Steamship  Petrel. 


FROM    COMMANDER    ASA    WALKER 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIP  CONCORD,  | 

MANILA,  May  2,  1898.  J 

Sir:  — In  compliance  with  Article  275,  United  States 
Navy  Regulations,  I  have  to  submit  the  following  report 
of  the  late  action  so  far  as  this  vessel  was  concerned:  — 


UNITED  STATES  PEACE  COMMISSIONERS  TO  PARIS,  OCTOBER  1,  1898 


OFFICIAL  STATEMENTS  365 

In  obedience  to  your  orders  I  took  position  in  line. 
In  passing  the  city  a  big  gun  opened  on  the  fleet,  to 
which  I  replied  with  two  shots.  The  Concord  held  her 
position  in  the  line  until  your  order  to  withdraw  from 
action. 

Later  in  the  day  I  was  ordered  by  you  to  burn  a 
transport.  To  arrive  at  the  position  of  the  transport  my 
course  lay  so  as  to  open  the  dockyard  and  vessels  therein, 
at  which  I  took  a  few  shots  with  the  6-inch  battery. 
I  succeeded  in  firing  the  transport,  which  is  still  in  flames. 

Each  and  every  one  of  my  subordinates  did  his  whole 
duty  with  an  enthusiasm  and  zeal  beyond  all  praise.  I 
am  particularly  indebted  to  the  executive  officer,  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  George  P.  Colvocoresses,  for  the  cool,  de 
liberate,  and  efficient  manner  with  which  he  met  each 
phase  of  the  action,  and  for  his  hearty  co-operation  in 
my  plans.  Lieutenant  T.  B.  Howard,  the  navigator,  proved 
that,  like  his  father,  he  was  ready  to  offer  his  life  to 
his  country  and  flag.  The  officers  of  divisions — Lieuten 
ant  P.  W.  Hourigan,  powder;  Lieutenant  (junior  grade) 
C.  M.  McCormick,  third  gun ;  Ensign  L.  A.  Kaiser,  second 
gun,  and  Ensign  W.  C.  Davidson,  first  gun — performed 
every  duty  with  zeal  and  alacrity.  Ensign  0.  S.  Knepper, 
in  charge  of  signals,  performed  the  duty  as  though  he 
were  in  the  daily  habit  of  being  under  fire.  Passed  As 
sistant  Paymaster  E.  D.  Ryan  volunteered  to  take  charge 
of  the  after  powder  division,  and  was  most  useful  therein. 
The  steam  department,  under  Chief  Engineer  G.  B.  Eansom 
and  Passed  Assistant  Engineer  H.  W.  Jones,  was  in  per 
fect  condition,  working  as  though  on  parade.  Pay  Clerk 


366  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

F.  K.  Hunt  volunteered  to  assist  the  surgeon.  The  crew, 
one  and  all,  worked  with  enthusiasm.  I  have  nothing  but 
praise  for  each  and  every  man. 

I  am  happy  to  report  that  there  were  no  casualties. 
The  Concord  was  not  hit. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  ammunition  expended : 
One  hundred  and  fifteen  6-inch  full  charges,  sixty-seven 
6-inch  reduced  charges,  six  shrapnel,  one  hundred  and 
seventy-six  6-inch  common  shell,  two  hundred  and  twenty 
6-pounder  cartridges,  one  hundred  and  twenty  3-pounder 
cartridges,  and  sixty  1 -pounder  cartridges. 

I  inclose  a  list  of  the  ammunition  remaining  on  board, 
also  the  report  of  the  executive  officer  and  of  the  chief 
engineer.  Very  respectfully, 

ASA   WALKER, 

Commander   II.  S.  N.,  Commanding. 
THE   COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, 

United   States   Naval   Force,  Asiatic   Station. 


FROM    LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER   GEORGE    P.    COLVOCORESSES 

UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIP  CONCORD,  THIRD  RATE. 

MANILA  BAY,   May  3,   1898. 

Sir:  —  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report 
of  the  action  in  Manila  Bay :  — 

At  12:25  A.M.,  May  1,  1898,  the  Concord,  being  in  her 
assigned  position  in  the  column  and  cleared  for  action, 
entered  the  Boca  Grande.  While  passing  El  Fraile  a  rocket 
was  fired  and  soon  followed  by  a  shot  from  a  battery  on 
shore.  This  ship  returned  the  fire.  A  second  shot  from 


OFFICIAL   STATEMENTS  367 

the  battery  passed  between  our  main  and  mizzen  masts 
and  over.  We  fired  again,  after  which  the  battery  did 
not  reply. 

At  12:45  A.M.,  while  approaching  the  anchorage  off  Ma 
nila,  we  were  fired  upon  by  a  shore  battery  and  two  shots 
were  exchanged  ;  we  also  fired  at  a  supposed  torpedo  boat 
that  ran  out  from  Cavite  and  was  sunk  by  the  Olympiads 
guns.  Another  boat  made  for  the  Olympia,  but  meeting  a 
warm  reception,  turned,  ran  on  the  beach,  and  was  aban 
doned. 

The  squadron,  in  splendid  order,  turned  to  the  right 
when  off  the  city  and  advanced  on  the  Spanish  fleet,  which 
appeared  in  line  of  battle  off  Sangley  Point,  in  Canacao  Bay. 
They  opened  upon  us  at  once,  but  most  of  their  shots  fell 
short.  As  we  steamed  past  the  enemy's  line  each  vessel 
of  our  squadron  delivered  fire  from  her  port  battery,  and 
the  effect  was  soon  apparent.  The  ensign  of  a  cruiser, 
which  wre  took  to  be  the  Eeina  Christina,  was  shot  away, 
but  hoisted  again,  and  she  took  fire  at  7:25  A.M.,  appar 
ently  from  the  effects  of  a  shell  from  the  Concord's  third 
division,  and  the  fire  hose  could  be  seen  playing  aloft. 

Three  complete  turns  were  made  by  our  squadron  in 
front  of  the  enemy's  line,  the  ships  firing  whenever  the 
guns  would  bear. 

At  7:40  A.M.  we  ceased  firing,  in  obedience  to  signal 
from  the  commander-in-chief,  and  at  8:10  A.  M.  the  crews 
went  to  breakfast.  At  this  time  several  of  the  enemy's 
ships  were  in  flames  and  explosions  took  place  on  board 
one.  of  them ;  some  were  sinking  and  others  withdrawing 
for  protection  behind  Canacao  and  Cavite. 


368  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

At  8:30,  in  obedience  to  a  signal  from  the  flagship, 
"  Concord  go  in  and  see  what  ships  are  on  fire,"  this  vessel 
promptly  proceeded  toward  the  Spanish  line,  but  the  order 
was  annulled. 

At  9:25  a  loud  report  was  heard,  which  came  from  one 
of  the  Spanish  cruisers,  and  was  followed  by  flames  and 
smoke. 

At  11:45  A.M.  our  squadron  again  stood  in  for  the  en 
emy,  when  signal  was  made  for  the  Concord  to  destroy  a 
large  transport  that  was  anchored  well  inside  in  shallow 
water,  and  where  there  were  a  number  of  fish  weirs.  In 
passing  we  fired  with  great  effect  at  the  curtain  of  the 
fort  at  Cavite  and  at  two  Spanish  vessels.  At  this  time 
the  battery  work  of  all  our  divisions  was  most  excellent, 
exhibiting  all  the  coolness  and  precision  of  ordinary  tar 
get  practice.  On  arriving  within  two  thousand  five  hun 
dred  yards  of  the  transport  we  commenced  firing  with 
main  and  secondary  batteries,  and  at  the  first  round 
about  ten  boats  loaded  with  men  were  seen  to  leave  her 
and  land  on  the  beach. 

At  12:25  not  a  Spanish  flag  was  flying  in  the  harbor 
except  from  the  staff  of  the  sunken  cruiser  Don  Antonio 
de  Ulloa,  submerged  behind  Sangley  Point ;  the  Eeina  Chris 
tina  wras  a  mass  of  flames  and  sunk  near  the  bastion  at 
Cavite,  and  the  Castilla  was  burning  rapidly  in  Canacao 
Bay.  The  remaining  vessels  of  the  Spanish  fleet  sought 
refuge  behind  the  arsenal,  and  several  of  them  were  on 
fire ;  the  guns  at  the  Cavite.  and  Sangley  batteries  had  al 
most  ceased  firing,  and  a  white  flag  appeared  on  the  sheers 
at  the  arsenal. 


OFFICIAL  STATEMENTS  369 

The  Concord  continued  firing  at  the  transport  in 
obedience  to  signal,  and  to  hasten  operations  the  first 
cutter  and  whaleboat,  in  charge  of  Ensigns  Kaiser  and 
Davidson,  armed  for  cutting  out,  were  got  into  the 
water,  the  former  from  the  skid  beams,  with  the  great 
est  promptitude,  and  provided  with  inflammables,  but 
before  they  had  gone  any  distance  it  was  discovered 
that  the  transport  was  on  fire,  and  the  boats  were  re 
called  and  hoisted  in.  At  1:45  we  started  to  rejoin  the 
squadron,  but  were  ordered  to  go  to  the  Petrel  at  Cavite, 
where  she  had  been  sent  to  destroy  the  vessels  at  the 
arsenal.  She  signaled  as  we  anchored,  "Have  de 
stroyed  eight  vessels  here."  White  flags  were  flying  at 
various  points  on  shore  and  there  was  no  longer  any 
resistance. 

The  Boston  joined  us  at  5:30. 

During  the  engagement  a  number  of  shot  and  shell 
passed  over  and  near  us.  but  neither  the  vessel  nor  her 
crew  received  damage  from  the  enemy. 

The  blocks  of  the  whaleboat's  falls  and  a  chest  hang 
ing  over  the  quarter,  several  panes  of  glass,  and  some 
crockery  were  injured  by  the  concussion  of  our  own 
guns. 

The  zeal,  energy,  and  steadiness  displayed  by  all  the 
men  and  officers  while  under  fire  are  deserving  of  the 
greatest  praise,  and  the  thorough  and  efficient  working  of 
the  battery,  the  promptness  of  the  ammunition  supply, 
the  completeness  of  preparations  for  the  care  of  the  sick 
and  wounded,  and  the  perfect  working  of  the  engines  and 
mechanical  devices,  reflect  the  highest  credit  upon  each 

D  — 24 


370  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

of  the  officers  of  divisions   and   heads   of   departments   of 
the  ship  under  your  command. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GEORGE  P.  COLVOCORESSES, 

Lieutenant-Commander  U.  S.  N.,  and  Executive  Officer. 
COMMANDER  ASA  WALKER, 

Commanding  Concord. 


In  a  battle  between  land  forces  there  are  no  unseen 
heroes.  Every  man  plays  his  part  above  ground  and  in 
general  view.  But  in  a  battle  on  the  sea  there  are  heroes 
unseen  and  almost  unheard  of  —  the  men  who  stand  before 
the  roaring  furnaces  below  decks,  and,  in  a  temperature 
often  as  high  as  twTo  hundred  degrees,  feeding  fuel  to  the 
great  fires  of  the  mighty  war-ship.  But  they  are  none  the 
less  heroes,  however,  because  unknown  as  such. 

The  cruiser  Raleiyh  brought  back  to  the  United  States 
several  men  who  were  with  Admiral  Dewey  on  the  Olympia 
during  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay.  Among  them  was  Charles 
H.  Twitchell,  a  stoker.  While  she  lay  at  anchor  in  the 
North  River,  our  correspondent  boarded  the  cruiser  and 
found  Mr.  Twitchell,  who  readily  consented  to  tell  some 
thing  of  the  part  taken  by  the  men  below  decks  during 
that  memorable  battle  of  May  1,  1898.  Here  is  the  story 
in  his  own  words :  — 

You  see,  there  isn't  much  fun  for  a  man  'way  down  here,  out  of 
sight  of  everything  and  everybody;  it's  work  for  men  and  plenty  of 
it.  You  may  think  it  hot  down  here  now,  but  this  is  Paradise  alongside 
of  what  we  had  when  we  went  for  the  Spaniards. 


THE  UNSEEN    HEROES  ON   A  WAR-SHIP 


OFFICIAL   STATEMENTS  373 

Midnight  before  the  battle  my  shift  went  clown  to  take  care  of  the 
engines.  Just  about  that  time  we  got  opposite  Corregiclor,  and  the 
guns  in  the  Spanish  forts  woke  us  up  and  let  us  have  it.  We  passed 
'em  all  right  and  kept  right  on  up  the  bay  as  though  nothing  had 
happened. 

Of  course  we  didn't  know  much  of  what  was  going  on  up  above. 
The  battle  hatches  were  all  battened  down,  and  we  were  shut  in  this 
little  hole,  the  ventilating  pipes  being  the  only  things  left  open. 

Everybody  had  received  orders  to  stand  by  his  post  and  do  his 
best  until  the  shooting  match  was  over.  The  temperature  was  nearly 
up  to  two  hundred  degrees  at  this  time,  and  it  was  so  hot  our  hair  was 
singed.  There  were  several  leaks  in  the  steam  pipes,  and  the  hissing 
hot  steam  made  things  worse. 

The  clatter  of  the  engines  and  the  roaring  of  the  furnaces  made 
such  a  din  it  seemed  one's  head  would  burst.  When  a  man  could 
stand  it  no  longer  he  would  put  his  head  under  the  air  pipe  for  a 
moment  and  try  to  cool  off  a  little.  The  heat  grew  so  unbearably 
fierce  at  times  our  hands  and  wrists  would  seem  on  fire,  and  we  had 
to  plunge  them  in  water.  All  the  water  we  had  was  in  an  old  pork 
barrel,  and  it  tasted  more  like  hot  brine  than  water.  But  bad  as  it 
was,  it  would  at  least  moisten  our  throats.  About  half-past  four  that 
morning  we  were  ordered  on  deck  to  get  a  breath  of  air  and  a  cup  of 
coffee.  We  were  given  to  understand  when  we  dived  down  into  our 
furnace  again  that  the  battle  was  going  to  begin  at  once. 

We  knew  that  might  mean  that  this  was  the  last  glimpse  we  would 
ever  get  of  the  deck,  and  we  went  down  prepared  to  go  to  the  bottom 
of  Manila  Bay.  Battened  down  the  way  we  were  in  the  bottom  of  the 
ship,  had  she  been  sunk  there  would  not  have  been  the  slightest  chance 
of  escape. 

We  could  tell  when  our  guns  opened  fire  by  the  way  the  ship  shook ; 
we  could  scarcely  stand  on  our  feet,  the  vibration  was  so  great.  Just 
at  that  moment  I  glanced  at  the  clock  hanging  on  the  wall  and  saw 
it  was  ten  minutes  to  six. 

From  that  time  on  the  din  was  something  horrible.  Every  once  in 
a  while  one  of  the  apprentice  boys  wrould  come  to  our  ventilating  pipe 
and  shout  down  from  the  deck  what  was  going  on.  That  was  the  only 
way  we  could  tell  how  the  battle  was  going.  We  kept  on  working 
all  the  time  as  hard  as  we  could.  The  ship  shook  so  fearfully  that 


374  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

the  soot  and  cinders  poured  down  on  us  in  clouds.  Now  and  then  a 
big  drop  of  scalding  water  would  fall  on  our  bare  heads,  and  the  pain 
was  intense. 

One  by  one  three  of  our  men  were  overcome  by  the  terrible  heat 
and  were  hoisted  to  the  upper  deck. 

Whenever  a  Spanish  ship  would  make  a  move  out  toward  us  some 
of  the  boys  on  deck  would  shout  down  that  they  were  coming  for  us 
full  tilt.  We  knew  it  meant  sure  death  if  the  Olympia  got  a  shot 
through  her  anywhere  in  our  vicinity.  We  were  suffering  so  much 
from  the  heat  and  thirst  that  death  didn't  frighten  us.  I  guess  we  all 
thought  it  couldn't  be  much  worse  than  what  we  were  going  through. 
Along  toward  the  last  of  our  first  engagement  an  apprentice  boy 
shouted  down  the  pipe  that  a  Spanish  torpedo  boat  was  making  straight 
for  us.  I  don't  believe  any  of  us  had  said  more  than  a  word  or  two 
up  to  that  time,  but  at  this  news  almost  all  of  us  set  up  some  kind  of 
a  shout.  We  knew  if  that  torpedo  reached  us  that  would  be  the 
windup. 

But  it  never  did  reach  us,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  boy  yelled 
again  and  said  the  boat  had  been  riddled  by  our  guns.  This  news 
brought  a  cheer  from  the  men,  and  we  felt  considerably  better.  About 
eight  o'clock  we  drew  off  for  a  consultation  of  war.  We  went  on  deck 
then  for  a  breathing  spell  and  a  bite  to  eat,  and  I  can  tell  you  we 
were  mighty  glad  of  the  change.  We  were  all  surprised  that  the 
decks  weren't  covered  with  blood  and  mangled  bodies,  and  could 
scarcely  believe  it  when  they  told  us  no  one  was  hurt. 

I  shall  never  forget  those  few  hours  I  spent  in  front  of  the  furnaces 
in  Manila  Bay.  It  seemed  to  me  the  longest  day  I  ever  lived.  I'm 
not  anxious  to  go  through  it  again,  and  I  don't  think  any  of  the 
others  are. 

This  unpretentious  narrative  might  be  retold  a  thou 
sand  times.  "  The  man  behind  the  gun "  fights  in  light 
and  air.  He  has  the  exhilaration  of  open  battle,  though 
the  smoke  may  hide  the  result  of  his  shot.  The  men 
before  the  furnace  can  strike  no  blow,  fire  no  shot.  He 
toils  and  dies  that  others  may  fight  and  win,  yet  to  him 
belongs  no  less  the  honor  of  the  battle. 


gpangled 


13  atmer.  ° 

CHAPTER   XIII 

HONORED  BY  STATE  AND  NATION 

RESOLUTIONS  OF  CONGRESS  —  APPOINTED  REAR-ADMIRAL  BY 
THE  PRESIDENT  —  PRESENTED  WITH  HISTORIC  FLAGS  —  DE 
GREES  AND  MEDALS  -ADMIRAL  OF  THE  NAVY  -COM 
MENDED  BY  HIS  ASSOCIATES 

HEN    the    victory    of   Manila    Bay 
fully    dawned    upon    the    minds 
of  the   American    people,   there 
was    a    unanimous    call    from 
the   press   and   pulpit   for  some 
prompt   and  official  recognition 
of    George  Dewey  and    his  gal 
lant  associates.     President   Mc- 
Kinley  responded  to  this  popular 
feeling  with  the  following  mes- 
sage  to  Congress  :  - 
To  the  Congress  of  the   United  States:  —  On   the   twenty- 
fourth  of  April,  I  directed  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to 
telegraph    orders    to    Commodore    George    Dewey,   of    the 

(375) 


(Taptured 


^     ^ 

Q?utt-poa,t, 


376  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

United  States  Navy,  commanding  the  Asiatic  squadron, 
then  lying  in  the  port  of  Hong-Kong,  to  proceed  forthwith 
to  the  Philippine  Islands,  there  to  begin  operations  and 
engage  the  assembled  Spanish  fleet. 

Promptly  obeying  that  order,  the  United  States  squad 
ron,  consisting  of  the  flagship  Olympia,  the  Baltimore,  the 
Raleigh,  the  Boston,  the  Concord,  and  the  Petrel,  with  the 
revenue  cutter  McCulloch  as  an  auxiliary  dispatch  boat, 
entered  the  harbor  of  Manila  at  daybreak  on  the  first  of 
May  and  immediately  engaged  the  entire  Spanish  fleet  of 
eleven  ships,  which  were  under  the  protection  of  the  fire 
of  the  land  forts.  After  a  stubborn  fight,  in  which  the 
enemy  suffered  great  loss,  these  vessels  were  destroyed  or 
completely  disabled,  and  the  water  battery  of  Cavite 
silenced.  Of  our  brave  officers  and  men  not  one  was  lost, 
and  only  eight  injured,  and  those  slightly.  All  of  our 
ships  escaped  any  serious  damage. 

By  the  fourth  of  May,  Commodore  Dewey  had  taken 
possession  of  the  naval  station  at  Cavite,  destroying  the 
fortifications  there  and  at  the  entrance  of  the  bay  and 
parolling  their  garrisons.  The  waters  of  the  bay  are 
under  his  complete  control.  He  has  established  hospitals 
within  the  American  lines,  where  two  hundred  and  fifty  of 
the  Spanish  sick  and  wounded  are  assisted  and  protected. 

The  magnitude  of  this  victory  can  hardly  be  measured 
by  the  ordinary  standards  of  naval  warfare.  Outweighing 
any  material  advantage  is  the  moral  effect  of  this  initial 
success.  At  this  unsurpassed  achievement  the  great  heart 
of  our  nation  throbs,  not  with  boasting  nor  with  greed  of 
conquest,  but  with  deep  gratitude  that  this  triumph  has 


PRESIDENT    OF   THE    UNITED    STATES    OF    AMERICA 


HONORED  BY   STATE   AND  NATION  379 

come  in  a  just  cause,  and  that  by  the  grace  of  God  an 
effective  step  has  thus  been  taken  toward  the-  attainment 
of  the  wished-for  peace.  To  those  whose  skill,  courage, 
and  devotion  have  won  the  fight,  to  the  gallant  com 
mander  and  the  brave  officers  and  men  who  aided  him, 
our  country  owes  an  incalculable  debt. 

Feeling  as  our  people  feel,  and  speaking  in  their  name, 
I  at  once  sent  a  message  to  Commodore  Dewey,  thanking 
him  and  his  officers  and  men  for  their  splendid  achieve.- 
ment  and  overwhelming  victory,  and  informing  him  that 
I  had  appointed  him  an  Acting  Eear- Admiral. 

I  now  recommend  that,  following  our  national  prece 
dents  and  expressing  the  fervent  gratitude  of  every  patri 
otic  heart,  the  thanks  of  Congress  be  given  Acting  Eear- 
Admiral  George  Dewey,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  for 
highly  distinguished  conduct  in  conflict  with  the  enemy, 
and  to  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command  for  their 
gallantry  in  the  destruction  of  the  enemy's  fleet  and  the 
capture  of  the  enemy's  fortifications  in  the  bay  of  Manila. 

WILLIAM  McKiNLEY. 
EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  May  9,  1898. 

The  message  was  received  by  both  Senate  and  House 
with  marked  enthusiasm,  and,  acting  on  the  suggestion 
of  the  President,  the  following  joint  resolution  was  in 
troduced  and  unanimously  passed  by  a  rising  vote,  every 
member  standing :  — 

Joint    resolution     rendering    the    thanks    of    Congress    to    Commodore 

George    Dewey,  U.  S.  N.,  and    to    the    officers    and    men 

of    the    squadron    under    his    command  : 

Resolved,  By  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  that  in  pursuance 


380  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

of  the  recommendation  of  the  President,  made  in  accordance  with 
the  provisions  of  Section  110  of  the  Revised  Statutes,  the  thanks  of 
Congress  and  of  the  American  people  are  hereby  tendered  to  Com 
modore  George  Dewey,  U.  S.  N.,  commander-in-chief  of  the  Asiatic 
station,  for  highly  distinguished  conduct  in  conflict  with  the  enemy 
as  displayed  by  him  in  the  destruction  of  the  Spanish  fleet  and 
batteries  in  the  harbor  of  Manila,  Philippine  Islands,  May  1,  1898. 

Section  2.  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  and  the  American 
people  are  hereby  extended  through  Commodore  Dewey  to  the  offi 
cers  and  men  under  his  command  for  the  gallantry  and  skill  ex 
hibited  by  them  on  that  occasion. 

Section  3.  Be  it  further  resolved  that  the  President  of  the 
United  States  be  requested  to  cause  this  resolution  to  be  commu 
nicated  to  Commodore  Dewey  and  through  him  to  the  officers  and 
men  under  his  command. 


But  the  official  recognition  of  George  Dewey  did  not 
stop  with  the  adoption  of  these  resolutions.  Senator 
Hale,  of  Maine,  at  once  introduced,  and  the  Senate  unani 
mously  passed,  a  bill  increasing  the  number  of  rear- 
admirals  in  the  Navy  from  six  to  seven,  and  the 
President  immediately  promoted  Acting  Rear- Admiral 
Dewey  to  the  rank  of  Rear-Admiral. 

The  foregoing  resolution  was  placed  in  the  hands  of 
one  of  the  most  expert  of  the  many  engrossing  clerks 
employed  by  the  Department  of  State,  and,  after  several 
weeks  of  painstaking  labor,  was  finally  forwarded  to  Rear- 
Admiral  Dewey  on  July  24,  1898. 

The  resolution  was  beautifully  embossed,  and  prefaced 
by  a  formal  attestation  of  its  authenticity  by  Secretary 
of  State  Day,  the  whole  being  inclosed  in  rich  gilt  and 
ornamented  Russia  covers.  It  is  to  be  remarked  that 
Secretary  Long,  in  his  letter  of  transmission,  makes  refer- 


SECRETARY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  NAVY 


HONORED   BY   STATE   AND  NATION 

ence  to  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  State  compliment 
ing  Admiral  Dewey  upon  his  direction  of  affairs  since 
the  great  naval  victory,  a  formal  evidence  that  the  State 
Department  is  thoroughly  well  satisfied  with  the  diplomatic 
qualities  he  has  exhibited. 

The   letter  of   Secretary   Long  is  as  follows:  — 

THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT, 

WASHINGTON,  July  24,  1898. 

The  department  has  received  from  the  Secretary  of  State  an  en 
grossed  and  certified  copy  of  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  tendering 
the  thanks  of  Congress  to  you  and  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
squadron  under  your  command,  for  transmission  to  you,  and  herewith 
inclose  the  same. 

Accompanying  the  copy  of  the  joint  resolution  the  department 
received  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  State  requesting  there  be  con 
veyed  to  you  his  high  appreciation  of  your  character  as  a  naval  officer, 
and  of  the  good  judgment  and  prudence  you  have  shown  in  directing 
affairs  since  the  date  of  your  great  achievement  in  destroying  the 
Spanish  fleet.  I  take  great  pleasure  in  doing  this,  and  join  most 
heartily  on  behalf  of  the  Navy  Department,  as  well  as  personally,  in 
the  commendation  of  the  Secretary  of  State. 

JOHN  D.  LONG. 
REAR-ADMIRAL  GEORGE  DEWEY, 

Commander-in-Chief  United  States  Naval  Force,  Asiatic  Station. 

Not  to  be  outdone  by  the  Senator  from  New  Eng 
land  in  any  measure  of  honor  to  the  hero  of  Manila 
Bay,  Senator  Quay,  of  Pennsylvania,  proposed  that  a 
jeweled  sword  be  presented  by  the  government  to  Com 
modore  Dewey,  and  Senator  Lodge,  of  Massachusetts, 
responded  by  offering  for  adoption  the  following  reso 
lution:— 

That  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  be  and  he   is  hereby   authorized 
to   present   a  sword   of    honor   to   Commodore    George    Dewey,  and    to 


384 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


SENATOR  HENRY  CABOT  LODGE 


cause  to  be  struck  bronze  medals  com 
memorating  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay, 
and  to  distribute  such  medals  to  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  ships  of  the  Asi 
atic  squadron  of  the  United  States,  under 
command  of  Commodore  George  Dewey, 
on  May  1,  1898,  and  that  to  enable  the 
Secretary  to  carry  out  this  resolution, 
the  sum  of  $10,000  is  hereby  appropri 
ated. 

This  resolution  was  also  agreed 
to  without  debate.  A  committee 
consisting  of  Assistant  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  Allen,  Senator  Henry 
Cabot  Lodge,  of  Massachusetts,  and 
Professor  Oliver,  of  the  United  States  Naval  Academy  at 
Annapolis,  was  appointed  to  receive  and  report  upon  com 
petitive  designs  which  were  invited  from  all  the  leading 
gold  and  silversmiths  in  the  country.  The  design  of 
sword  submitted  by  Tiffany  & 
Company,  of  New  York,  was  ap 
proved.  The  illustrations  given 
on  the  following  pages  convey  an 
excellent  idea  of  the  sword  in  its 
scabbard,  also  the  case  in  which 
it  is  inclosed. 

The  top  of  the  hilt  is  of  solid 
gold,  22  karats  fine,  and  this  qual 
ity  of  the  yellow  metal  is  em 
ployed  wherever  gold  is  used. 
Oak  leaves,  the  decoration  ap 
propriate  to  the  Admiral's  rank,  SENATOR  MATTHEW  STANLEY  QUAY 


HONORED  BY  STATE  AND  NATION 


385 


are  conspicuous  in  various  parts  of  the  scabbard  and  hilt, 
and  there  are  acorns  on  both  of  these  parts  of  the  me 
morial.  George  Dewey  was  born  in  the  month 
of  December,  and  it  was  desired  to  use  his 
birthstone,  the  turquoise,  in  the  jeweling  of 
the  sword ;  but  this  was  found  to  be  im 
practicable,  as  the  turquoise  is  easily 
scratched,  and  this  sword  is  de 
signed  to  be  useful  as  well  as 
In  other  respects  the  sword  was 
ally  designed.  Encircling  the  top 
wreath  of  oak  leaves.  Immedi- 
is  the  gold  '"collar" 
is  technically  called, 
the  collar  is  displayed 
United  States  in  gold, 
shown  the  arms  of 
State  in  enamel, 
motto  of  Ver- 
Stars  decorate 

the    plain    part    of    the    collar, 
of  the  hilt  is  of  sharkskin,  inlaid 
and    bound    with    gold   wire.      The 
the  hilt  is   a  conventionalized   eagle, 
nating    with    a    claw    that    clasps    the 
of  the  handle.     The   eagle's  expression  is   defi 
ant,  but  a  wreath  of  laurel  in  its  beak  indicates 
that  it  is  peacefully  inclined.     One  wing  of  the  eagle 
is  extended  so  as  to  form  the  broad  part  of  the  guard. 
The  scabbard  is  ornamented  at  the  top  with  a  monogram 


ornamental. 

made  as  origin- 

of   the    hilt   is    a 

ately    beneath    this 

of  the  hilt,  as  it 

On    the    front    of    \ 

the    arms     of     the 

and     just     below    is    *- 

Admiral   Dewey 's  native    '<? 

with   a   scroll  bearing  the    \\ 

mont,  "  Freedom  and  Unity."     \ 


and  the  grip 
with  stars, 
guard  of 
termi- 
top 


D  —  25 


386  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

formed  of  the  initials  "G.  D."  in  diamonds,  and  beneath 
the  monogram  are  the  letters  UU.  S.  N."  in  smaller  dia 
monds.  The  scabbard  is  of  thin  steel  beautifully  damas 
cened  in  gold  with  sprays  of  rosmarinus,  and  with  the 
letter  "D"  repeated  again  and  again,  supplemented  with 
dolphins.  The  blade  is  damascened,  and  bears  the  follow 
ing  inscription :  — 

"THE  GIFT  OF  THE  NATION  TO 

REAR-ADMIRAL   GEORGE   DEWEY,  U.  S.  N., 

In  Memory  of  the   Victory  at  Manila  Bay,  May  1,  1898." 

The  blade  also  bears  representations  of  Phoenician 
galleys,  which  were  the  first  craft  of  the  world's  navies. 
All  of  this  is  on  one  side  of  the  blade.  The  belt 
mountings  and  other  trappings  are  of  the  regulation 
pattern,  ornamented  with  oak  leaves  and  acorns.  The 
belt  is  of  blue  enamel  and  gold,  its  buckle  being 
adorned  with  the  customary  eagle,  anchor,  and  stars. 
The  bullion  tassel  and  embroidered  straps  are  much 
richer  than  the  ordinary.  All  of  the  gold  used  is  of 
the  same  quality  as  that  in  the  sword  itself,  and  the 
quantity  required  was  seven  hundred  and  twenty-five 
pennyweights.  This  is  the  finest  sword  ever  presented 
by  the  United  States  to  any  of  its  Army  or  Navy  heroes. 

When  Congress  reconvened  for  the  short  session  in 
December  1898,  Representative  Livingston,  of  Georgia,  in 
troduced  the  following  bill  to  revive  the  grade  and  rank 
of  Admiral  of  the  Navy  for  George  Dewey,  as  a  still 
further  mark  of  consideration  and  reward  for  his  services 
to  his  country :  — 


HONORED  BY  STATE  AND  NATION  389 

"Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  That,  to  provide 
prompt  and  adequate  reward  to  Rear- Admiral  George  Dewey,  the 
grade  and  rank  of  Admiral  in  the  United  States  Navy  be,  and  it  is 
hereby  revived,  with  the  same  duties,  pay,  and  privileges  appurtenant 
thereto  that  were  by  law  given  to  the  former  appointees  to  said  rank, 
the  said  grade  and  rank  to  exist  only  during  the  lifetime  of  this 
officer." 

The  resolution  was  referred  to  the  appropriate  com 
mittee,  and  remained  there  till  the  last  week  of  the  short 
session.  Some  of  Dewey's  friends  in  the  House  believed 
it  was  being  smothered  for  a  purpose,  and  determined  to 
bring  the  question  up  in  another  way.  When  the  regular 
appropriation  bill  for  the  Navy  was  reached  late  in  the 
month  of  February,  Representative  Moody,  of  Massachu 
setts,  offered  a  rider  to  the  measure  creating  the  office 
and  rank  of  Admiral  for  Rear-Admiral  George  Dewey. 
His  action  met  with  the  unanimous  approval  of  the 
House.  But  the  original  resolution  was  immediately 
thereafter  reported  from  committee,  and  was  agreed  to 
without  division  by  both  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre 
sentatives,  two  days  before  the  adjournment  of  Congress. 
The  President  promptly  signed  the  bill,  and  on  March  2, 
1899,  sent  to  the  Senate  the  nomination  of  Rear- Admiral 
George  Dewey  to  be  an  Admiral  of  the  Navy  in  the  serv 
ice  of  the  United  States.  The  Senate  at  once  confirmed 
the  nomination,  and  the  commission,  which  had  already 
been  prepared  at  the  Navy  Department,  was  signed  by  the 
President  and  Secretary  Long,  and  George  Dewey  became 
an  Admiral  from  and  after  March  2,  1899.  He  was  at 
once  cabled  to  hoist  his  flag  as  Admiral,  and  was  directed 


390  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

to  select  such  uniform  as  he  might  choose  suitable  for 
the  rank  to  which  he  had  been  appointed. 

By  this  appointment  Admiral  Dewey  became  the  rank 
ing  officer  in  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States, 
and  whenever  both  arms  of  the  service  are  engaged  in 
any  undertaking  his  orders  wrill  be  supreme.  He  is  also 
the  ranking  officer  of  all  the  navies  represented  in  the 
Philippine  waters,  and  there  are  but  few  naval  command 
ers  in  the  world  who  hold  relatively  as  high  a  place  in 
power  over  their  vessels  and  men. 

Immediately  after  the  Senate  had  confirmed  the  nomi 
nation,  Secretary  Long  cabled  his  own  and  the  President's 
congratulations  to  Admiral  Dewey  at  Manila.  The  Ad 
miral  responded  with  a  modest  telegram  of  thanks  for  the 
honor. 

Montpelier,  the  home  of  Admiral  Dewey,  celebrated 
the  great  American  victory  at  Manila  Bay  by  a  magnifi 
cent  public  demonstration  on  May  9  in  which  about 
ten  thousand  people  participated.  The  city  was  elabo 
rately  decorated  with  flags  and  bunting. 

The  celebration  began  at  two  o'clock  in  the  "Golden 
Fleece,"  which  is  the  finest  auditorium  in  Vermont,  and 
in  which  over  two  thousand  persons  assembled  on  this 
occasion.  The  decorations  in  the  hall  were  very  fine. 
Seated  upon  the  stage  were  Honorable  Charles  Dewey 
and  family,  Captain  Edward  Dewey  and  family,  Mayor 
John  H.  Senter,  and  the  speakers,  consisting  of  Hiram 
A.  Huse,  Professor  J.  A.  De  Boer,  President  A.  D.  Brown, 
of  Norwich  University,  Northfield ;  Reverend  Andrew 
Gillies,  T.  C.  O'Sullivan,  of  New  York  city;  Reverend 


L 


HONORED  BY  STATE  AND  NATION  391 

Father  O'Sullivan,  ex-Mayor  George  W.  Wing,  State's 
Attorney  F.  A.  Howland,  and  General  Stephen  Thomas. 
Patriotic  music  was  furnished  by  the  Montpelier  Mili 
tary  Band,  a  chorus  of  school  children,  and  the  Arion 
Quartet.  Resolutions  congratulating  Commodore  George 
Dewey  were  passed,  and  a  cable  message  was  sent  by 
Honorable  Charles  Dewey  to  his  brother,  informing  him 
of  the  honor  paid  him  by  his  native  city.  The  resolu 
tions  follow:  — 

WHEREAS,  under  the  providence  of  God,  and  by  virtue  of  the 
skill,  valor,  and  heroism  of  its  officers  and  men,  the  American  fleet, 
under  Commodore  George  Dewey,  won  a  signal  and  most  marvel 
ous  victory  over  the  combined  forces  of  Spain  in  the  harbor  of 
Manila,  Island  of  the  Philippines,  on  Sunday,  the  first  morning  of 
May,  Eastern  time ;  and, 

WHEREAS,  This  brilliant  victory  has  shed  fresh  lustre  upon  the 
country's  naval  history,  already  bright  with  innumerable  great 
achievements  on  land  and  sea,  and  adds  to  the  glory  of  the  United 
States,  his  native  State,  Vermont,  and  Montpelier,  the  city  of  his 
birth ;  be  it,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  city  of  Montpelier  and  the  neighboring  vil 
lages  and  towns  do  hereby,  with  great  sincerity,  happiness,  and  pride, 
vote  its  heartfelt  thanks  and  congratulations  to  the  officers  and  sail 
ors  of  the  Asiatic  squadron,  and  especially  to  him,  the  Commodore, 
George  Dewey,  who  led  them  with  such  ideal  success,  amid  un 
precedented  obstacles,  to  a  victory,  the  renown  of  wrhich  will  never 
perish  from  the  earth. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  attested  by  the  Mayor 
and  clerk  of  Montpelier,  and  stamped  with  the  city's  seal,  be  for 
warded  to  Commodore  George  Dewey  without  delay. 

The  Vermont  legislature,  which  had  been  convened  in 
extraordinary  session  by  Governor  Grout  to  provide  ways 
and  means  for  supplying  that  State's  quota  of  troops 


392  LIFE   OF  ADMIEAL  DEWEY 

called  for  in  President  McKinley's  proclamation,  unani 
mously  passed  the  following  resolutions,  which  have  now 
become  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  commonwealth:  — 

WHEREAS,  The  officers  and  men  of  the  Asiatic  squadron,  by  their 
victory  over  the  Spanish  fleet  at  Manila,  have  won  the  profound 
gratitude  of  their  countrymen  ;  and  their  Commodore,  George  Dewey, 
has  made  for  himself  a  place  among  the  world's  naval  heroes ;  and 

WHEREAS,  Vermont,  as  the  native  State  of  Commodore  Dewey, 
takes  special  pride  in  this  achievement ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  By  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  that  the 
members  of  the  General  Assembly,  representing  the  people  of  Ver 
mont,  express  to  Commodore  Dewey  and  through  him  to  his  entire 
command,  their  deep  appreciation  of  their  signal  and  timely  suc 
cess,  their  confidence  in  his  ability  to  so  meet  the  trying  situa 
tion  at  the  Philippines  as  to  bring  added  honor  to  the  United 
States  and  greater  distinction  to  himself,  and  their  keen  gratifica 
tion  that  the  first  great  honors  of  the  war  should  fall  to  a  son 
of  Vermont. 

Resolved,  That  the  promotion  of  Commodore  Dewey,  without 
delay,  would  be  the  spontaneous  and  grateful  recognition  of  a 
great  national  service  by  a  brave  man  ;  and,  further, 

Resolved,  That  the  clerk  be  directed  to  communicate  these  reso 
lutions  to  Commodore  Dewey  as  soon  as  cable  communication  with 
Manila  is  restored,  and  to  transmit  copies  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States  and  to  our  Representatives  in  Congress. 

Within  a  week  after  the  news  of  victory  at  Manila 
reached  the  United  States  two  of  the  leading  New  York 
newspapers  arranged  to  present  Admiral  Dewey  with  silk 
flags  as  tokens  of  remembrance  and  honor.  One  was  de 
signed  to  be  a  memento  from  the  wives  and  widows  of 
the  men  in  America  who  have  made  the  Nation's  his 
tory  in  time  of  war.  The  flag  as  presented  contained 
across  its  folds  of  red  and  white  the  names  of  such 
illustrious  women  as  Julia  Dent  Grant,  Mrs.  Jefferson 


HONORED  BY  STATE  AND  NATION 


395 


Davis,  Mrs.  John  A. 
Logan,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Gor 
don,  Mrs.  J.  E.  B.  Stu 
art,  Mrs.  Julia  King 
Grady,  Mrs.  Fitzhugh 
Lee,  Mrs.  William  T. 
Sampson,  Mrs.  Charles 
D.  Sigsbee,  and  others. 
Letters  from  these  pat 
riotic  women  to  the 
paper  which  managed 
the  presentation  were 
forwarded  to  the  Ad 
miral  with  the  flag, 
and  a  few  of  them  are 
here  reproduced. 

From  the  widow  of 
the  illustrious  General 
Grant :  — 


MRS.  U.  S.  GRANT 


2111   MASSACHUSETTS  AVENUE,  May  12,  1898. 

You  ask  me  if  I  am  in  sympathy  with  this  movement  of  the 
ladies  to  present  Admiral  Dewey  with  a  flag  ? 

Of  course  I  am,  and  would  love  to  see  every  one  of  the  gallant 
fellows  made  Admirals  and  presented  with  flags. 

JULIA  D.  GRANT. 

From   the  widow   of  Jefferson   Davis:  — 

NEW  YORK,  May  12,   1898. 

Though  1  am  well  aware  that  no  eulogism  uttered  by  an  in 
dividual  could  enhance  the  value  of  Admiral  Dewey's  glorious  vic 
tory  before  Manila,  in  response  to  your  invitation  to  express  my 
opinion  of  it  I  can  only  say  every  American  must  feel  pride,  not 


396 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


only  in  him,  but  in  the 
officers  and  men  of  our 
fleet  whose  valor  has  added 
another  wreath  to  the  laurels 
won  by  the  American  Navy 
ever  since  their  flag1  num 
bered  thirteen  stars. 

The  acclaim  of  his  grate 
ful  countrymen  must  ever 
be  a  hero's  dearest  reward, 
and  this  guerdon  awaits 
Admiral  Dewey  and  his 
dauntless  men,  who  have 
taken  a  brilliant  initiative 
in  achieving  the  first  vic 
tory  of  the  war. 

MRS.  JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

From  the  widow  of 
General  Logan:  — 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C., 

May  5,  1898. 

MRS.  JOHN  A.  LOGAN  C  o  m  m  o  d  o  r  e    Dewey's 

name  is   now  immortalized, 

as  was  that  of  Perry,  in  freedom's  cause.  Brainy,  brave,  and  blame 
less,  he  has  won  the  first  victory  over  a  foreign  foe  in  behalf  of 
men  struggling  for  freedom. 

If  his  dauntless  fleet  needed  anything  to  stimulate  them  to 
heroic  deeds,  the  thought  of  the  treachery  that  sent  our  proud  ship, 
with  so  many  of  her  dauntless  crew,  to  the  bottom  of  the  harbor 
at  Havana  was  all-suflicient.  If  they  needed  a  talismanic  cry,  the 
patriotic  Dewey  doubtless  shouted,  "Remember  the  Maine!" 

Forty  years  of  faithful  service,  beginning  seriously  on  board  the 
Mississippi,  then  in  the  siege  of  New  Orleans,  have  fitted  him  well 
for  the  deed  he  has  done.  Farragut,  seeing  the  Manassas  approach 
ing,  directed  Captain  Melancthon  Smith,  of  the  Mississippi,  to  follow 
and  destroy  that  famous  ram.  Young  Dewey,  participating  in  the 


HONORED  BY   STATE  AND  NATION  397 

execution  of  this  order,  saw  the  Manassas  go  clown.  From  cadet 
to  commodore  he  has  won  his  promotions. 

With  little  preparation,  and  as  if  it  were  an  incident  of  his 
voyage  westward,  he  finds  the  enemy's  boasted  invincible  fleet  pro 
tected  by  the  frowning  guns  of  Manila's  fortifications.  He  salutes 
them  in  thundering  tones,  and  in  two  brief  hours  sends  some  of 
them  to  the  winds  and  others  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  All  hail 
Commodore  Dewey  ! 

Present  him  a  flag  on  whose  stainless  stripes  the  names  of  his 
countrywomen  may  be  inscribed,  if  you  will.  Their  prayers  and  con 
gratulations  will  go  with  their  names,  and  may  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
he  has  planted  on  the  ramparts  of  Manila  ever  wave  over  that  un 
happy  island  as  a  beacon  of  light  that  will  guide  its  long-suffering 
people  into  the  bright  sunlight  of  liberty,  while  they  cry,  "God  bless 
Admiral  Dewey  !  "  MRS.  JOHN  A.  LOGAN. 

From  the   wife   of  a  famous  orator  and  statesman  of 

the   South :- 

ATLANTA,  GA.,  May  9,  1898. 

It  is  a  great  privilege  to  join  my  American  sisters  in  eviden 
cing  our  boundless  admiration  of  the  skill  and  bravery  of  the  offi 
cers  and  men  of  our  glorious  Navy.  It  can  scarcely  be  doubted 
that  the  flag  to  be  presented  to  "  the  most  valorous  and  fortunate 
ship "  will  go  to  Admiral  Dewey.  His  victory  at  Manila  may  pos 
sibly  be  equaled  in  the  future,  but  in  the  brilliancy  and  importance 
of  its  achievements,  without  loss,  it  certainly  has  no  rival  in  the 
past  history  of  sea  or  land  conflicts. 

MRS.  J.  B.  GORDON. 

From  the  widow   of  the   beloved   Grady:  — 

ATLANTA,  GA.,  May  11,  1898. 

In  common  with  every  patriotic  woman  of  America,  I  congratulate 
Commodore  Dewey  upon  the  luminous  page  he  has  added  to  the  an 
nals  of  the  nation's  valor  on  the  seas.  He  stands  to-day  the  foremost 
Anglo-Saxon  of  the  naval  world,  and  his  heroic  fight  for  the  land 
that  was  helpless  until  we  successfully  espoused  her  cause  will  live  as 
the  Trafalgar  of  our  history.  As  with  Nelson,  England  expected 


398 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


every  man  to  do  his  duty,  so  with   Dewey,  "America  knows  that  every 
man  did  his  duty." 

The  American  bloodshed  at  Manila  re-cemented  the  sections  into 
a  Union  such  as  only  comradeship  in  arms  can  make.  As  a  Georgian, 
I  glory  in  this  victory  in  which  Georgians  took  part,  and  I  cannot 
better  express  my  feelings  than  to  wish  that  my  grandson,  born  while 
Manila  was  being  bombarded,  may  for  that  reason  think  of  his  birth 
day  with  the  pride  a  true  American  should  feel  at  Admiral  Dewey's 
remarkable  triumph. 

The  whole  South  shares  your  enthusiasm,  and  yields  to  no  section 
in  its  loyal  admiration  of  America's  hero.  This  tremendous  success 
shows  that  with  an  American's  intrepid  courage  he  combined  those 
rarer  qualities  of  foresight  and  sagacity,  and  Georgia  and  the  South 

to-day  congratulate  the 
Union  in  the  possession  of 
such  a  hero  and  Cuba  in 
the  presence  of  such  a 
champion. 
MRS.  JULIA  KING  GRADY. 

From    the    wife    of 
Admiral  Sampson :  — 


GLEX  RIDGE,  N.  .1., 

May  11,  1898. 
My  opinion  can  have  no 
value,  as  it  cannot  differ 
from  the  opinion  of  every 
other  American  citizen  who 
rightly  understands  what 
reason  we  have  to  be  proud 
of  the  alert,  prompt  daring 
of  our  navy.  And  we  are 
proud  of  our  sailors,  as 
well  as  of  our  commanders. 
Our  pride  in  Admiral 
Dewey  does  not  have  its 
beginning,  however,  at 


MRS.  CAPTAIN   CHARLES   D.  SIGSBEE 


HONORED  BY   STATE   AND  NATION  399 

Manila.      Those   who  know  him  need  not  have  been  wise  men  to  have 
prophesied  what  he  would  do.  ELIZABETH  BURLING  SAMPSON. 

From   the   wife  of  Captain   Charles   D.  Sigsbee :  - 

PHILADELPHIA,  May  11,  1898. 

In  regard  to  the  presentation  of  a  flag  to  Admiral  Dewey,  as  a 
token  of  appreciation  of  his  bravery,  1  wTill  say  that  the  news  of  the 
brilliant  victory  at  Manila  fills  all  our  hearts  with  joy.  His  brave 
and  decisive  action  makes  this  one  of  the  most  remarkable  battles  of 
history.  This,  the  initial  engagement  of  the  war,  is  an  augury  of 
future  successes.  I  rejoice  with  the  whole  country  that  none  of  our 
men  were  killed  and  only  six  were  wounded. 

ELIZA  ROGERS  SIGSBEE. 

From  the  wife  of 
General  Fitzhugh  Lee: 

RICHMOND,  VA., 

May  10,  1898. 
It  always  gives  me 
pleasure  to  know  that  the 
services  of  our  brave  men 
are  appreciated  and  recog 
nized. 

ELLEN  BERNARD  LEE. 

May  1,  the  anniver 
sary  of  the  Battle  of 
Manila,  will  hereafter 
be  observed  as  a  legal 
holiday  in  the  States 
of  California  and  Penn- 
sylvania.  The  first 
anniversary  was  cele 
brated  in  every  State 
in  the  Union  by  a  dis-  MRS.  FITZHUGH  LEE 


400  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

play  of  flags  and  bunting,  dinners  in  honor  of  Admiral 
Dewey,  and  other  festivities  of  a  patriotic  nature.  In 
the  city  of  New  York  more  than  four  hundred  thousand 
children  held  Dewey  Day  exercises  in  the  schools,  where 
the  singing  of  patriotic  songs  and  enthusiastic  orations  by 
young  Americans  was  followed  by  addresses  of  an  educa 
tional  character,  by  prominent  citizens  and  educators,  all 
tending  to  impress  the  young  with  the  importance  of  loy 
alty  to  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and  to  the  memory  of  Ad 
miral  Dewey.  This  character  of  celebration  was  general 
in  all  the  public  schools  of  every  State  in  which  the  day 
had  not  been  made  a  legal  holiday. 

President  McKinley  was  at  the  Navy  Yard  in  Brook 
lyn,  on  a  tour  of  inspection,  and  from  there  he  sent  the 
following  cable  message  to  Admiral  Dewey  at  Manila  :  — 

NAVY  YARD,  BROOKLYN,  May  1,  1899. 
DEWEY,  MANILA  :  — 

On  this  anniversary  of  your  great  victory,  the  people  of  the  United 
States  unite  in  an  expression  of  affection  and  gratitude  to  yourself 
and  the  brave  officers  and  men  of  your  fleet,  whose  brilliant  achieve 
ments  mark  an  epoch  in  history,  and  will  live  in  the  annals  of  the 
world's  heroic  deeds.  WILLIAM  McKiNLEY. 

As  soon  as  the  country  had  recovered  from  the 
shock  and  surprise  of  the  battle  of  May  1,  1898,  in 
Manila  Bay,  several  of  the  most  noted  colleges  and  his 
torical  societies  conferred  upon  George  Dewey  honorary 
titles  and  degrees  innumerable.  Medals,  in  bronze  and 
other  metals,  were  struck  in  commemoration  of  his 
famous  victory,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  any  other  Ameri 
can,  except  General  Grant,  was  ever  so  highly  honored 


HONORED  BY   STATE  AND  NATION 


401 


THE  DEWEY  MEDAL 


at  home  or  abroad.  Ad 
miral  Dewey  is  now  a 
master  of  all  the  arts  and 
sciences  and  a  doctor  of 
everything  except  divin 
ity.  And  what  is  more, 
he  richly  deserved  the 
recognition. 

The  medal  from  the 
New  Jersey  Historical 
Society  is  worthy  of 
special  mention  here.  It 
was  struck  from  the  die  made  by  Tiffany  &  Company  in 
1889  in  commemoration  of  the  centennial  of  the  inaugu 
ration  of  George  Washington  as  President.  The  medal 
measures  two  and  a  half  inches  in  diameter,  and  around 
the  edge  on  one  side  are  the  words:  "To  Rear- Admiral 
George  Dewey,  elected  Honorary  Member  of  the  New 
Jersey  Historical  Society 
May  19,  1898—  Olympiad 
On  the  same  side  is  the 
head  of  George  Washing 
ton,  and  around  the  por 
trait  in  raised  Roman 
letters  is  the  inscription : 
"  Washington  Centennial 
Medal,  New  Jersey  His 
torical  Society,  1789- 
1889."  On  the  other  side 

is    a    Copy    of    the    Seal    of  THE  DEWEY  MEDAL  (Reverse  side) 

I)  —  26 


402 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


the  society,  from  behind  which  appears  a  wreath  of 
laurel  and  oak.  Over  the  seal  are  the  words :  "  Above 
all  hold  dear  your  National  Union." 

Among  the  sturdy  patriots  arid  warriors  who  have 
been  honored  by  the  State  of  Vermont,  no  one  since 
his  time  has  ever  replaced  in  the  affections  and  admir 
ation  of  the  people  that  other  early  riser  and  intrepid 
foe  to  the  enemies  of  liberty,  Ethan  Allen.  His  statue 
in  marble  adorns  the  porch  of  the  State  House  at 
Montpelier.  And  now  it  is  proposed  to  erect  another 
and  similar  memorial  to  this  other  Vermonter,  Admiral 
George  Dewey,  who  has  achieved  distinction  in  the  ser 
vice  of  his  country. 
A  number  of  gentle 
men  natives  of  that 
State,  but  who  have 
acquired  fame  and  for 
tune  elsewhere,  have 
interested  themselves 
in  the  project,  and  a 
large  sum  of  money 
has  been  raised  by  pri 
vate  subscription. 
The  statue  will  be 
made  of  Vermont 
marble,  and  is  to  be 
given  a  place  with 
that  of  Ethan  Allen 
in  the  State  House 

DR.  ALBERT  SHAW 


HONORED  BY   STATE   AND  NATION  403 

The  war  with  Spain  brought  to  the  front  many  men 
who  will  live  in  history  and  in  the  hearts  of  the  Amer 
ican  people  while  time  shall  last.  But  dearer  than 
all  the  rest,  and  more  honored  than  all  others  com 
bined,  will  ever  be  the  hero  of  Manila  Bay.  The  editor 
of  the  American  Monthly  Review  of  Reviews,  Dr.  Al 
bert  Shaw,  will  readily  be  accepted  as  an  authority  on 
this  subject,  and  from  him  we  quote  the  following 
opinion  :— 

Admiral  Dewey  could,  of  course,  at  any  time  since  May  1,  have 
bombarded  and  conquered  the  city  of  Manila  ;  but  although  his  task  of 
waiting  was  an  extremely  trying  one,  he  had  determined  to  make  no 
attack  that  should  expose  the  city  to  the  danger  of  anarchy  and  rap 
ine.  It  was  his  policy  to  wait  until  the  United  States  had  sent  a 
sufficient  number  of  soldiers  to  maintain  a  safe  and  firm  occupation, 
and  prevent  the  disorders  that  would  flow  from  a  state  of  civil  war 
fare.  With  their  fatal  proclivity  for  postponement,  the  Spaniards  had 
waited  a  week  too  long.  Our  complete  conquest  of  Manila  had  altered 
the  facts,  because  it  had  destroyed  the  Spanish  argument  that  Manila 
was  prepared  to  stand  an  indefinitely  long  siege.  It  was,  upon  the 
whole,  highly  fitting  that  Admiral  Dewey,  whose  brilliant  exploit  on 
May  1  had  been  the  first  great  event  of  the  war,  should  have  received 
the  surrender  of  Manila,  and  in  consequence  thereof  virtually  secured 
the  American  possession  of  the  entire  Philippine  group  as  the  result 
of  the  last  naval  action  of  the  war.  Admiral  Dewey's  tact  as  a  diplo 
mat  and  administrator  in  these  past  four  months  is  not  less  remark 
able  than  his  boldness  and  brilliancy  as  a  naval  strategist.  Moreover, 
he  has  shown  that  well-nigh  perfect  masterv  which  can  wait  with 
infinite  patience  or  can  act  with  lightning-like  energy,  as  the  occasion 
may  require.  Manila  is  so  far  away,  and  the  news  since  May  1  has 
come  in  so  condensed  a  fashion,  that  we  have  not  known  in  minute 
detail  how  Admiral  Dewey  was  occupying  himself  from  one  day  to 
the  next.  But  the  people  of  the  United  States  have  felt  that  the 
Admiral  was  in  a  very  unusual  degree  the  embodiment  of  American 
pluck,  common  sense,  coolheadedness,  and  ingenious  resourcefulness ; 


404  LIFE   OF  ADMIEAL  DEWEY 

and  so  they  have  felt  a  great  satisfaction  in  the  idea  that  the  Ver- 
monter  in  the  Philippines  could  be  relied  upon  to  take  care  of  him 
self  and  dominate  the  situation,  regardless  of  Spanish  captain-generals 
and  the  intrigues  of  pompous  German  admirals,  not  to  mention  the 
soaring  aspirations  of  restless  native  patriots  like  General  Aguinaldo. 
The  winning  side  in  every  war  develops  its  heroes.  We  are  all  glad 
to  believe  that  many  another  officer  of  our  Navy  would  have  given  a 
splendid  account  of  himself  if  he  had,  in  Dewey's  place,  been  in  com 
mand  of  the  Asiatic  squadron  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  But  Dewey 
had  especially  qualified  himself  in  advance  for  precisely  the  work  he 
has  so  well  executed  ;  and  by  unanimous  consent  he  will  rank  first 
in  the  list  of  heroes  of  the  late  war." 

Among  the  many  words  of  commendation  of  George 
Dewey  spoken  by  his  former  associates  in  the  Navy,  we 
have  selected  the  following  as  best  expressing  the  con 
sensus  of  opinion  of  naval  officers  :  — 

Of  all  the  people  delighted  with  the  famous  victory 
of  Admiral  Dewey,  of  Manila,  there  was  no  one  that  re 
joiced  more  sincerely  than  Kear- Admiral  Bunce,  of  the 
Brooklyn  Navy  Yard. 

"Friends?"  said  he;  "Yes,  indeed,  from  the  days  when 
we  were  at  the  Naval  Academy.  We  entered  the  same 
year,  and  not  only  were  we  classmates,  but  chums.  He 
was  a  splendid  fellow  then,  and  always  has  been." 

'  Were    you    surprised    when    you    read    of    his    vic 
tory?" 

"Not  in  the  least.  All  that  Dewey  wanted  was  the 
opportunity;  when  it  came  he  embraced  it." 

"How  did  he  stand  in   his   class?" 

"He  was  not  what  you  would  call  a  student,  but  he 
was  one  of  the  bright  fellows.  He  stood  neither  at  the 
head  nor  at  the  foot,  but  about  in  the  middle,  but  we 


HONORED  BY   STATE   AND  NATION 


405 


all  knew  that  he  had 
the  ability  to  stand 
anywhere  he  wanted 
to." 

Admiral  Bunce 
went  on  to  say  that 
there  were  "few  more 
popular  men  than 
Commodore  Dewey. 
He  never  sought  pop 
ularity.  It  came  to 
him.  In  the  first  place 
he  is  a  fine-looking 
man,  and  he  has  most 
attractive  manners. 
People  seek  him  out, 
and  whenever  he  is 
on  shore  he  is  kept 
busy  with  his  social 
engagements.  At  the  same  time  he  is  no  'carpet  knight.' 
He  is  a  fighter,  and  a  disciplinarian  —  just  the  sort  of  a 
man  to  engage  in  a  big  battle  and  win  it." 

"What   do   you  think  of  his   victory?" 

"Nelson  can't  approach  it.  I  have  studied  Nelson's 
battles  very  closely  and  he  won  no  victory  to  compare 
with  this.  Nelson  fought  against  ships,  but  he  never  won 
a  victory  against  ships  and  batteries  as  well.  The  only 
thing  to  compare  in  his  history  to  Manila  was  at  Copen 
hagen  ;  but  I  do  not  agree  with  Nelson's  biographers  about 
that." 


REAR-ADMIRAL  BUNCE 


406 


LIFE  OF  ADMTEAL  DEWEY 


"There  are  those 
who  would  belittle 
Dewey's  achievement 
by  saying  that  the 
Spanish  had  only 
wooden  ships,  and 
that  he  had  armored 
cruisers,"  was  sug 


gested. 


REAR-ADMIRAL  WALKER 


"Armored  cruis 
ers  ! "  exclaimed  Rear- 
Admiral  Bunce ;  "Who 
could  say  such  a 
thing?  You  may  go 
no  farther  than  the 
Navy  Register.  See 
here,"  and  he  took  a 
copy  from  his  desk, 
"there  is  not  an  ar 
mored  cruiser  in  all  Dewey's  fleet. 

"So  far  as  ships  go  the  Spaniards  were  nearly  our 
match.  The  trouble  was  not  with  their  ships.  They  had 
good  enough  ships,  but  they  didn't  know  how  to  handle 
them.  They  were  not  marksmen.  If  Dewey  had  let  them 
get  near  him  they  might  have  hit  something,  but  he 
knew  too  much  for  that.  He  could  hit  them  and  keep 
his  distance." 

"Dewey,"  said  Rear- Admiral  Walker,  "is  an  unusually 
good  man,  both  as  a  fighter  and  a  strategist.  He  served 
with  distinction  in  the  Navy  during  the  War  of  the 


HONORED  BY   STATE  AND  NATION 


407 


Rebellion  and  saw 
considerable  hard 
fighting.  He  did  that 
affair  at  Manila  in  a 
most  thorough,  busi 
ness-like  way,  and  is 
entitled  to  much  praise 
for  the  skillful  manner 
in  which  he  manoeu 
vred  his  fleet.  It  was 
just  like  him  to  sail 
right  in  past  the  forti 
fications  and  through 
the  mines  and  tor 
pedoes  with  which  the 
harbor  is  supposed  to 
have  been  filled  and 
do  the  work  he  set 
out  to  do  in  a  thorough,  business-like  way,  without  any 
fuss  or  feathers." 

And  here  is  the  opinion  of  Dewey's  victory  from  an 
other  of  the  fighting  men  who  achieved  distinction  in 
the  Navy  during  the  war  with  Spain,  Rear-Admiral 
Winfield  Scott  Schley :  "Admiral  Dewey's  victory  at 
Manila  must  deservedly  take  its  place  side  by  side 
with  the  greatest  naval  victories  of  the  world's  his 
tory.  It  has  been  urged  that  the  results  show  such  infe 
riority  in  resistance  as  compared  with  the  vigor  of  attack 
that  there  is  a  diminution  of  the  glory,  but  that  is  un 
true,  for  it  must  first  be  remembered  that  the  greatness 


Copyright  1898  by  E.  M.  Jackson 

REAR-ADMIRAL  W.  S.   SCHLEY 


408  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

of  Dewey's  success  lies  in  the  calm  courage  and  daring 
displayed  in  his  decision  to  enter  a  strange  harbor  at 
dark  under  the  guns  of  many  forts,  and  braving  the  per 
haps  hidden  torpedo  or  mine.  It  strikes  me  that,  with 
several  advantageously  fortified  positions,  the  preponder 
ance  of  advantage  was  certainly  with  the  enemy,  and  that, 
with  the  great  daring  displayed  by  Dewey,  there  must  fall 
upon  his  shoulders  the  mantle  of  Perry  and  Farragut.  It 
is  clearly  evident  that,  despite  the  great  risk,  there  was 
not  a  faint  heart  in  all  that  squadron,  but  an  enthusiasm 
and  esprit  de  corps  that  could  not  but  win  with  such  a 
leader." 

Another  officer  of  the  Navy,  who  did  not  wish  to  be 
quoted  by  name,  had  this  to  say  of  the  hero  of  Manila  : 
"He  is  a  man  of  great  determination.  It  has  long  been 
a  saying  in  the  Navy  that  'when  Dewey  sets  out  to  do  a 
certain  thing  it's  going  to  be  done  unless  something 
breaks/  You  see,  he  mixes  brains  with  his  determina 
tion,  and,  while  he  has  sometimes  been  spoken  of  as  one 
likely  to  take  desperate  chances,  the  truth  is  that  the 
chances  are  really  in  his  favor  before  he  goes  ahead, 
though  they  might  be  against  a  less  able  man  in  similar 
circumstances. 

"Dewey  is  no  blusterer.  In  truth  he  is  apparently 
about  the  mildest  man  you'd  meet  in  a  week.  He  never 
makes  a  bluff,  and  he  never  uses  violent  language.  It 
may  be  that  he  used  a  big,  big  D  or  two  while  the  fight 
was  on  at  Manila,  but  I  doubt  it.  I  have  known  him 
fairly  well  for  nearly  twenty  years,  and  I  have  never 
heard  him  swear  or  brag. 


HONORED   BY   STATE  AND   NATION 


409 


"Dewey  is  quick  both  in  speech  and  movement,  but 
he  is  mighty  careful  to  be  sure  he  is  right  before  he  goes 
ahead,  and  there  isn't  an  officer  in  the  Navy  that  is  jeal 
ous  of  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  Admiral.  The  Ad 
miral  likes  to  shoot  game,  and  fishing  is  one  of  his 
greatest  delights.  He  is  likewise  an  enthusiastic  horse 
back  rider.  While  stationed  at  Washington  during  his 
last  period  of  shore  duty  he  was  a  familiar  equestrian 
figure  on  the  streets  and  came  to  be  widely  known,  not 
only  as  'the  Commodore  a-horseback,'  but  also  as  one  of 
the  most  graceful  riders  in  the  capital  city.'7 


CHAPTER   XIV 
LETTERS  FROM  DEWEY 

SOME      HITHERTO      UNPUBLISHED      LETTERS  —  THE      ADMIRAL'S 
CAREER  IN   A   NUTSHELL  -  A   LOVING    SISTER'S   TRIBUTE 


HE  letters  written  by  George  Dewey 
to  his  kindred  contain  many  pass 
ages  which  serve  to  illustrate  the 
character  of  the  man  quite  as 
fully  as  do  his  diplomatic  actions 
in  the  Philippines.  Here  is  one 
addressed  to  his  sister  at  Mont- 
pelier  during  the  Fall  of  1896, 
and  shows  something  of  the  love 
he  bears  for  his  native  State :  — 


TUreck.  ofc  the  Juan  de 


WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  November  30,   1896. 

.  .  .  The  address  by  Mr.  Depew  on  our  dear  old  State  is 
most  interesting,  and  I  shall  retain  it  for  future  reading.  I  feel 
quite  proud  of  belonging  to  such  an  old  Commonwealth.  .  .  . 
There  is  nothing  new  with  me.  I  lead  a  very  quiet  life,  reading 
a  great  deal  and  getting  my  exercise  by  walking,  as  my  saddle 
horse  became  so  unsatisfactory,  I  o-ave  him  away 
(410) 


LETTERS   FROM  DEWEY  411 

When  George  Dewey  received  his  assignment  to  duty 
in  the  China  Sea  it  was  claimed  by  some  that  he  went 
there  against  his  own  inclinations.  The  following  letter 
to  a  member  of  his  family  clearly  disproves  such  a  theory. 
It  will  also  be  noted  that  he  expected  to  receive  his 
promotion  to  the  rank  of  Rear-Admiral  in  the  summer 
of  1898,  but  it  is  doubtful  if  he  then  expected  that  it 
would  come  about  as  the  result  of  a  victory  over  the 
Spanish  fleet  in  Manila  Bay. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  November    1,  1897. 
Yes,  I    am    indeed    to    be     congratulated,  as    I    have     re 
ceived     what     is     to     me     the     best     gift     the     President     could     make. 
Expect    to     join    my    flagship    Ohjmpia    at    Yokohama     about 
Christmas,  and    to     remain     in    command     two     years.      I     go     out     as 
Commodore,    and    will     not    receive     my    promotion     to     Rear- Admiral 
until    next    summer,  a  new   rule    to    that    effect    having    been    recently 
.made. 

After  the  city  of  Boston  had  named  a  public  square 
for  George  Dewey,  the  councilman  who  had  been  instru 
mental  in  having  the  square  named  addressed  a  letter 
to  the  Admiral  informing  him  of  the  fact.  To  his  letter 
the  Admiral  made  the  following  reply:— 

UNITED    STATES  CRUISER  OLYMPIA,  ) 

MANILA,  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS,  November  22,   1898.  \ 
MR.   W.   W.  HIBBARD: 

Dear  /Sir:  —  I  have  the  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  letter  of  October  10,  informing  me  that  you  had  introduced, 
and  had  passed  through  both  branches  of  the  Boston  city  gov 
ernment,  an  order  naming  the  area  in  front  of  Boston's  new  Union 
Station,  "  Dewey  Square." 

I  have  watched  with  much  interest  the  building  of  this  station, 
and  have  noted  with  a  great  deal  of  pride  that  this,  the  finest  and 


412 


LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


largest  in  the  world,  has  been  erected  by  the  foremost  city  of  New 
England,  and  now,  with  increased  interest  and  pride  do  I  thank  you, 
and  beg  that  you  will  convey  my  thanks  and  appreciation  to  the 
members  of  both  branches  of  the  council  for  the  honor  with  which 
they  have  so  courteously  favored  me. 

Yours    very   truly, 

GEORGE    DEWEY. 


/ 


REPRODUCTION,   IN   FAC-SIMILE,  OF  ADDRESSED  ENVELOPE  FROM  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 
TO  HIS   BROTHER,  THE  HON.  CHARLES  DEWEY 

In  October,  five  months  after  the  Battle  of  Manila,  the 
following  letter  was  received  by  the  Honorable  Charles 
Dewey,  brother  of  the  Admiral.  That  Dewey  is  a  man 
of  unusual  nerve  force  is  demonstrated  by  his  statement 
that,  notwithstanding  the  extraordinary  strain  of  work  and 
worry,  he  is  still  in  good  health,  and  keenly  appreciative 


LETTERS   FROM   DEWEY  413 

of  the  kindly  sentiment  toward  him  among  the  people  in 
the  United  States.  This  evidence  of  appreciation  of  his 
efforts  by  friends  at  home,  he  says,  is  the  fountainhead  of 
his  inspiration  and  strength. 

FLAGSHIP  OLYMPIA,          ) 
MANILA,  October  6,  1898.  ) 

My  Dear  Brother :  —  I  was  glad  to  hear  from  you  the  other 
day  and  to  know  that  on  August  20  last  you  were  all  well;  I  was 
particularly  pleased  to  know  that  Edward  and  Mary  were  so  well. 
Without  good  health  there  is  very  little  worth  living  for. 

My  health  continues  to  be  excellent,  notwithstanding  my  hard 
work  and  great  responsibilities.  One  thing,  I  think,  that  keeps  me  up 
is  the  fact  that  my  work  out  here  has  been  fully  appreciated  by  my 
countrymen,  and  they  have  not  been  backward  in  showing  their  com 
mendation.  My  cabin  is  filled  with  presents  of  every  kind  received 
from  all  over  the  country. 

I  hope  soon  to  have  one  or  two  battleships  in  my  fleet,  and  shall 
then  be  ready  for  any  power  likely  to  attack  us ;  perhaps  the  Brook 
lyn  may  come  out  too,  either  she  or  the  New  York.  I  have  just 
sent  three  ships  to  the  mouth  of  the  Reiho,  as^near  Peking  as  ships 
can  go  on  account  of  threatened  disturbance  in  China. 

1  see  my  hands  are  going  to  be  full.  With  love  to  all  and 
thanks  for  the  nice  sayings  in  your  letter,  I  am, 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

GEORGE  DEWEY. 

Among  the  brave  American  soldiers  who  laid  down 
their  lives  at  the  Battle  of  Malate,  near  Manila,  on  the 
night  of  July  31,  1898,  was  a  young  Pennsylvanian  from 
Mount  Pleasant,  who  left  behind  him,  in  the  Keystone 
State,  a  bride  of  one  year.  Soon  after  the  husband's  de 
parture  for  the  Philippines  a  baby  girl  was  born,  and  the 
fond  parent  is  said  to  have  prayed,  with  his  dying  breath, 
for  God's  protecting  care  for  his  loved  ones,  so  far  away. 


414 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL   DEWEY 


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LETTERS  FROM   DEWEY 


415 


416 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


LETTERS  FROM  DEWEY 


417 


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418 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


LETTERS   FROM  DEWEY 


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LIFE  OF  ADMIEAL  DEWEY 


LETTERS  FROM  DEWEY 


421 


422  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

The  widowed  mother  received  the  brief  official  notice 
from  Washington  of  the  death  of  her  husband,  and,  not 
knowing  whom  else  to  address,  wrote  a  letter  to  Admiral 
Dewey,  asking  for  particulars.  To  her  message  the  Ad 
miral  sent  the  following  touching  reply:— 

FLAGSHIP  OLYMPIA,       ) 
MANILA,  October  23,  1898.  J 
MY  DEAR  MRS.  Noss:  — 

I  wish  to  express  to  you  my  deepest  sympathy.  It  must  lessen  your 
sorrow  somewhat  to  know  that  your  young  husband  fell  fighting 
bravely  for  his  country,  the  noblest  death  a  man  can  know.  From 
the  Olympia  I  watched  the  fight  that  fearful  night,  and  wondered 
how  many  American  homes  would  be  saddened  by  the  martyrdom 
suffered  by  our  brave  men ;  and  my  sympathy  went  out  to  each  and 
every  one  of  them. 

Your  loss  has  been  sadder  than  the  others,  and  I  am  unable  to 
express  the  sorrow  I  feel  for  you.  Tears  came  to  my  eyes  as  I  read 
the  sad  story  of  the  father  who  never  saw  his  child,  and  then  the 
loss  of  all  that  was  left  to  the  brave  mother.  It  is  hard  sometimes 
to  believe  it,  but  our  Heavenly  Father,  in  His  infinite  goodness,  al 
ways  does  things  for  the  best,  and  some  day  father,  mother,  and 
daughter  will  be  joined,  never  again  to  be  parted. 

With  my  tenderest  sympathy,  believe  me  your  sincere  friend, 

GEORGE  DEWEY. 


And  here  is  another  side  to  the  man  who  could  ride 
over  possible  mines  into  a  strange  harbor  at  dead  of 
night  and  face  a  known  foe  without  as  much  as  flinching 
at  the  sound  of  the  enemy's  guns.  Some  time  after  the 
Battle  of  Manila  a  little  eight-year-old  daughter  of  John 
Gardwell,  of  New  Albany,  Ky.,  penned  a  sweet  little  note  to 
the  great  Admiral  at  Manila  and  begged  her  parents  to 
permit  her  to  send  it  to  him. 


LETTERS  PROM  DEWEY  423 

In  the  letter  she  asked  Admiral  Dewey  if  he  could 
give  her  something  as  a  souvenir  of  the  Battle  of  Manila, 
even  if  it  were  only  "just  a  button  off  your  coat,"  as 
she  put  it.  She  also  sent  him  a  photograph  of  herself. 
Just  before  Christmas  the  child  received  an  autograph 
letter  from  the  man  who  then  held  the  destinies  of  eight 
millions  of  people  in  his  own  hands,  but  could  yet  find 
time  to  pen  an  answer  to  a  little  stranger,  whom  he  was 
pleased  to  address  as  his  "Little  Friend."  This  one  letter 
illustrates  as  well  as  a  dozen  could  do  it,  the  kind  heart 
and  gentle  nature  possessed  by  the  Admiral  of  all  the 
American  Navy:  — 

FLAGSHIP  OLYMPIA, 
MANILA,  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS,  November  11,  1898. 

My  Dear  Little,  Friend :  - —  I  have  received  and  enjoyed  your 
letter  so  much.  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  picture, 
and  it  is  the  very  nicest  present  you  could  have  sent  me. 

I  am  very  sorry  that  I  have  nothing  to  send  you,  for  I  would 
like  to  very  much.  So  many  people  have  already  asked  me  for  but 
tons  and  pictures  that  I  have  a  long  time  ago  given  them  all  away. 
I  haven't  enough  buttons  left  to  button  my  coat. 

Believe  me,  your  sincere  friend, 

GEORGE  DEWEY. 

A  number  of  Confederate  veterans  living  at  Clarks- 
ville,  Term.,  wrote  a  letter  of  congratulation  to  Admiral 
Dewey  after  the  Battle  of  Manila ;  and  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  same  men  had  manned  the  Confederate 
battery  which  sunk  the  Mississippi  at  Port  Hudson,  on 
that  memorable  March  13,  1863,  when  George  Dewey 
came  so  near  losing  his  life,  the  instance  shows  that 
even  the  bitterest  of  old  comrades  on  each  side  are 


424  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

burying  the  hatchet  and  falling  into  that  grandest  of 
grand  armies  where  the  blue  and  the  gray  are  march 
ing  shoulder  to  shoulder.  The  old  veterans  who  sent 
the  letter  expressing  a  cordial  feeling  for  their  former 
enemy  and  distinguished  compatriot  told  him  of  their 
relation  to  him  during  the  Port  Hudson  incident.  And 
here  is  George  Dewey's  answer  to  their  letter:  — 

FLAGSHIP  OLYMPIA,  ) 

CAVITE,  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS,  July  23,  1898.    ) 

Dear  Sirs  :  — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
letter  and  resolutions  of  May  28,  1898,  and  I  can  assure  you  that, 
although  I  have  had  letters,  resolutions,  telegrams,  etc.,  from  all  parts 
of  the  United  States,  none  has  given  me  more  pleasure  than  the  com 
munication  from  you. 

One  fortunate  result  of  this  war  with  Spain  is  the  healing  of  all 
the  wounds  that  have  been  rankling  since  1865,  and  I  believe  that 
from  now  on  we  will  be  a  united  people  —  with  no  North,  no  South. 

That  result  alone  will  be  worth  all  the  sacrifices  we  have  made. 
It  would  give  me  much  pleasure  to  talk  over  with  you  those  stirring 
days  around  Port  Hudson,  and  I  hope  that  pleasure  may  be  in  store  for 
me.  In  the  meanwhile,  with  many  thanks  for  your  congratulations 
and  best  wishes,  I  remain,  Very  truly, 

GEORGE  DEWEY. 

LIEUTENANT  A.  F.  SMITH  AND  OTHERS,  Clarksville,  Tenn. 

After  the  Battle  of  Manila  had  brought  to  Admiral 
Dewey  the  hearty  and  unanimous  commendation  of  the 
American  people,  and  as  the  war  with  Spain  did  not 
seem  to  bring  out  any  other  one  man  so  prominently  to 
the  public  view,  the  politicians  of  all  parties  began  to 
wonder  if  the  hero  of  Manila  might  not  perhaps  have  a 
desire  to  become  a  candidate  for  the  presidency.  After 
making  a  pretty  thorough  canvass  of  the  situation,  and 


LETTERS   FROM   DEWEY  425 

becoming  satisfied  that  no  candidate  could  stand  against 
him  if  he  would  consent  to  become  a  candidate  for  that 
highest  office  in  the  gift  of  the  American  people,  a  New 
York  newspaper  sent  an  agent  to  Manila  to  interview 


ADMIRAL  DEWEY'S  LETTER  TO  HIS  BROTHER   EDWARD,   IN   FAC-SIMILE 

the  Admiral  on  that  subject.  The  published  answer  to 
the  questions  asked  created  a  sensation  in  the  United 
States.  It  seemed  well-nigh  incredible  that  any  man  so 
situated  could  rise  above  his  own  ambition  and  refuse  to 
be  considered  as  a  candidate  for  such  honors.  But  George 


426  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Dewey  endeared  himself  to  the  American  people  still 
more  by  his  prompt  and  unequivocal  response.  Here  are 
his  own  words  as  cabled  to  the  United  States  :  — 

I  would  not  accept  a  nomination  for  the  presidency  of  the 
United  States. 

I  have  no  desire  for  any  political  office.  I  am  unfitted  for  it, 
having  neither  the  education  nor  the  training. 

I  am  deeply  grateful  for  many  expressions  of  kindly  sentiment 
from  the  American  people,  but  I  desire  to  retire  in  peace  to  the 
enjoyment  of  my  old  age. 

The  navy  is  one  profession,  politics  another.  I  am  too  old  to 
learn  a  new  profession  now. 

I  have  no  political  associations,  and  my  health  would  never 
stand  the  strain  of  a  canvass. 

I  have  been  approached  by  politicians  repeatedly,  in  one  way 
or  another,  but  I  have  refused  absolutely  to  consider  any  proposi 
tion  whatever. 

This    is    final. 

But  the  management  might  have  saved  the  expense 
of  a  special  commissioner  to  Manila  had  they  consulted 
the  Admiral's  immediate  family  in  Montpelier.  As  early 
as  January  1899  the  Honorable  Charles  Dewey  received 
from  his  distinguished  brother  the  following  letter  on  the 
subject,  accompanied  by  the  declaration  that  "I  had 
rather  be  an  Admiral  ten  times  over." 

UNITED  STATES  CRUISER  OLYMPIA, 

MANILA,  December  10,  1898. 
Dear  Brother  : — Yours  of  October  29,  with  inclosure,  was  duly 
received.  ...  Nothing  new  here.  We  are  waiting  to  hear  from 
Washington  that  the  United  States  owns  the  islands,  and  then  will 
follow  the  question  of  dealing  with  the  insurgents.  General  Otis 
thinks  Aguinaldo  is  losing  his  power  and  that  the  insurrection  will 
soon  disintegrate.  I  hope  so. 


LETTERS  FROM  DEWEY  427 

I  have  strong  letters  urging  me  to  become  the  Democratic 
candidate  for  President.  I  had  rather  be  an  Admiral  ten  times 
over.  With  much  love, 

Your    affectionate    brother, 

GEORGE  DEWEY 
HONORABLE  CHARLES  DEWEY. 

Among  the  tragedies  of  the  Spanish  War  was  the 
death,  a  few  weeks  after  the  Battle  of  Manila,  of  Captain 
Charles  V.  Gridley,  of  the  Olympia.  Captain  Gridley  was 
a  sick  man  before  the  battle  was  fought,  and  the  shock 
to  his  nervous  system  occasioned  by  the  engagement  was 
too  much  for  him  and  he  died  while  on  his  way  to  the 
United  States,  where  he  had  been  ordered  by  the  Navy 
Department  officials.  The  mother  of  Captain  Gridley 
wrote  a  letter  concerning  her  son's  death  to  Admiral 
Dewey,  and  received  the  following  reply:  — 

FLAGSHIP  OLYMPIA, 

CAVITE,  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS,  August  12,  1898. 
Dear  Madam :  —  Am  just  in  receipt  of  your  letter  in  regard  to 
the  death  of  your  son.  Captain  Charles  V.  Gridley,  and  wish  to  ex 
tend  to  you  my  most  sincere  sympathy  in  your  great  bereavement. 
His  loss  is  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  especially  by  me, 
whose  friend  and  trusted  and  gallant  assistant  he  was.  His  illness 
began  in  Hong-Kong,  but  he  bravely  clung  to  his  post,  and  not 
until  after  the  battle  and  victory  in  which  he  assisted  so  much  would 
he  consent  to  leave  his  ship  and  return  to  the  United  States.  His 
death  was  caused  by  a  complication  of  diseases,  including  diarrhoea 
and  dropsy,  all  clue  to  a  disordered  condition  of  liver,  and  aggra 
vated  by  a  rupture  sustained  on  the  day  of  the  battle.  The  im 
mediate  cause  of  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Kobe,  was  severe 
hemorrhage  of  the  stomach.  This  was  entirely  unexpected ;  indeed, 
our  surgeon  had  no  idea  that  it  would  occur,  or  that  Captain  Gridley 
was  dangerously  ill,  although,  of  course,  it  was  known  that  he  could 
not  remain  on  duty. 


428  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

It  is  a  matter  of  some  gratification  to  me  that  I  was  instrumental 
in  obtaining  for  him  an  advancement  in  his  grade  for  highly  distin 
guished  conduct  in  battle,  which  he  richly  deserved,  though  he  did 
not  live  to  enjoy  it. 

With  heartfelt  sympathy,  very  sincerely  yours, 

GEORGE  DEWEY. 

To  a  comrade  in  the  Navy  George  Dewey  throws  a 
side  light  on  the  Battle  of  Manila  in  the  following  letter, 
written  a  few  weeks  after  the  engagement  took  place. 
The  letter  is  dated  "On  board  the  Olympia,  off  Manila," 
and  highly  commends  the  bravery  of  the  men  who 
manned  the  Spanish  boats  and  guns :  — 

My  Dear  Norton :  —  .  .  .  As  we  moved  past  Corregidor,  the 
Olympia  being  in  advance,  suddenly,  not  fifty  yards  to  the  right, 
there  was  a  muffled-  roar,  and  a  column  of  water  shot  upward  thirty  or 
forty  feet  high.  In  a  moment  another  to  my  left.  "  So  the  place  is 
mined,"  I  said  to  Lamberton.  Just  then  I  recalled  what  Farragut 
said  to  Drayton  of  the  Hartford  in  Mobile  Bay,  when  the  monitor 
Tecumseh  blew  up,  torpedoed,  very  near  the  old  flagship.  Drayton 
looked  a  little  uneasy  —  almost  any  man  would  at  that  time  and 
place  —  when  Farragut  roared  out  through  his  trumpet:  "D  —  n  the 
torpedoes ;  signal  fleet  to  follow  me."  I  signaled  the  fleet  to  follow 
the  Olympia,  and  it  did  most  gallantly. 

I  opened  on  the  Spanish  flagship  Reina  Christina  with  my  8-inch 
guns  at  five  thousand  eight  hundred  yards.  Every  shot  took  effect. 
The  Spanish  Admiral  Montojo  fought  his  ships  like  a  hero.  He  stood 
on  his  quarter-deck  until  his  ship  was  ablaze  from  stem  to  stern,  and 
absolutely  sinking  under  his  feet ;  then  transferring  his  flag  to  the 
Isla  De  Cuba,  he  fought  with  what  was  left  of  his  fleet,  standing 
fearlessly  amid  a  hail  of  shrapnel  until  his  second  ship  and  over  one 
hundred  of  her  crew  sank  like  lead  in  a  whirl  of  water. 

It  seems  to  me  that  history  in  its  roll  of  heroes  should  make 
mention  of  an  Admiral  who  could  fight  his  ships  so  bravely,  and 
stand  on  the  bridge  coolly  and  calmly  when  his  fleet  captain  was 
torn  to  pieces  by  one  of  our  shells  at  his  side.  I  sent  him  a  mes 
sage,  telling  him  how  I  appreciated  the  gallantry  with  which  he  had 


LETTERS  FROM  DEWEY  429 


ADMIRAL  DEWEY'S  LETTER  TO  HIS  BROTHER  CHARLES,    IN   FAOSIMILE 


430 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


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LETTERS   FROM  DEWEY  431 


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432 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


LETTERS   FROM  DEWEY  433 

fought  his  ships,  and  the  deep  admiration  my  officers  and  men  felt  for 
the  commander  of  the  Reina  Christina,  who  nailed  his  colors  to  his 
mast,  and  then  went  down  with  his  gallant  crew.  I  think,  my  dear 
Norton,  that  had  you  witnessed  this,  as  I  did,  you,  too,  would  have 
sent  the  brave  sailor  the  message  I  caused  to  be  sent  to  him,  to 

which  he  responded   most  courteously. 

Yours   truly, 

GEORGE  DEWEY. 

The  following  brief  sentences  will  familiarize  the  reader 
with  George  Dewey's  career  from  birth  till  sixty-one  years 
of  age:  — 

1837  — Born  at   Montpelier,  Vt. 

1849 — Rebellious  pupil  in  Montpelier  district  school. 
1852  —  Student  in  the  Norwich  University,  at  Norwich,  Vt. 
1854 — Entered   United   States   Naval   Academy  at  Annapolis   as  a 
cadet. 

1858  —  Graduated  from  the   Naval  Academy  fifth  in  his   class. 

1859  —  Had   his    first    experience    in    ocean    cruising    on    the    steam 
frigate    Wabash  in  the  Mediterranean. 

1860  —  Commissioned  as  Lieutenant  in  the  Navy. 

1861  —  Assigned    to  the   West   Gulf    squadron  as   executive    officer 
on  the  Mississippi. 

1862 — -Went  on  the  Mississippi  to  assist  Farragut's  fleet  in  the 
capture  of  New  Orleans. 

1863  — -  Mississippi  destroyed  at  Port  Hudson,  and  Dewey  ordered 
up  the  James  River  under  Commander  McComb. 

1864 — Attached  to  the  North  Atlantic  blockading  squadron. 

1865  —  Commissioned    Lieutenant-Commander    for    meritorious  con 
duct  in  the  attacks  on  Fort  Fisher. 

1866  —  Assigned     to     the    steamer    Kearsarge,    on    the     European 
station. 

1867  —  Married    to    Susie    B.  Goodwin;     transferred    to    the    Colo 
rado,  flagship  of  European  squadron. 

1868  —  Detailed    for    two    years    as   instructor   at    the   Naval  Acad 
emy. 

D-28 


434  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

1870 Assigned   to  the  steamer  Narragansett  for  special   service. 

1872 After  visit  of  inspection  to  torpedo  stations,  made  Com 
mander  of  the  Narragansett,  and  sent  to  the  Pacific  Coast  Survey, 
where  he  remained  nearly  four  years.  In  1872  his  wife  died  at  New 
port,  R.  I. 

1876 — Made  Lighthouse  Inspector,  and,  later,  secretary  of  the 
Lighthouse  Board. 

1882 Assigned  to  command  the  Juniata,  of  the  Asiatic 

squadron. 

1884  —  Promoted     to     Captain,     and     assigned     to     command     the 
Dolphin,    one    of    the    four    vessels    that    formed    the    original    White 
squadron. 

1885  —  In    command    of    the    flagship    Pensacola,  of   the    European 
squadron,  for  three  years. 

1889  —  Chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Equipment  and  Recruiting  at 
Washington,  with  the  rank  of  Commodore. 

1893  —  Made  a  member  of  the  Lighthouse  Board. 

1896  —  Commissioned  Commodore,  and  made  president  of  the  Board 
of  Inspection  and  Survey. 

1897  —  Sent  to  the  China  Sea  in  command  of  the  Asiatic  squadron. 

1898  —  Defeated  the  Spanish  fleet  in   Manila  Bay. 

1899  —  Made  Admiral  of  the  United  States  Navy. 

Admiral  George  Dewey  is  blessed  above  most  men  in 
the  possession  of  an  unusually  loving  and  admiring  kin 
dred.  His  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  P.  Greeley,  of  Montpelier,  Vt., 
tells  many  pleasant  anecdotes  of  her  own  childhood  with 
"brother  George."  Their  mother  died  when  George  was 
but  five  years  old  and  his  sister  Mary  but  two  years  his 
junior;  and  the  children  were,  for  this  reason,  much  to 
each  other.  Mrs.  Greeley  is  of  an  exceedingly  modest, 
retiring  disposition  and  averse  to  being  quoted  with  ref 
erence  to  her  illustrious  brother.  In  a  letter  to  the 
author,  however,  she  speaks  particularly  of  how  full  of 
life  and  fun  her  brother  was,  and  although  somewhat 


LETTERS  FROM  DEWEY 


435 


ADMIRAL  DEWEY'S  LETTER  TO  HIS  BROTHER   CHARLES,  IN   FAC-SIMILE 


436  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


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LETTERS  FROM  DEWEY 


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LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


LETTERS   FROM  DEWEY  439 

addicted  to  the  habit  of  playing  truant  from  school,  his 
lovable  traits  of  character  and  noble  qualities  outweighed 
anything  that  could  be  said  against  him. 

"When  George  was  eleven  years  old  some  one  gave 
him  the  story  of  Hannibal  crossing  the  Alps.  He  never 
tired  of  reading  this  book,  and  one  morning,  taking  some 
other  boys  for  a  bodyguard,  he  started  on  the  snow  crust 
to  climb  the  steep  hill  just  back  of  the  State  House,  imag 
ining  himself  Hannibal,  and  he  never  gave  up  until  he 
reached  the  summit." 

George  was  a  great  actor,  and  used  to  have  a  theatre 
in  the  carriage-house  at  his  father's  barn.  A  buffalo  robe 
was  the  drop-curtain,  five  pins  were  charged  for  admission 
to  the  performance,  and  a  peanut  stand  was  in  evidence. 
The  plays  were  mostly  high  tragedy,  in  which  George 
always  took  a  prominent  part. 

His  sister  remembers  that  at  one  time  the  star  actress, 
a  little  girl  of  her  own  age,  could  not  appear,  and  George 
called  on  her  to  take  the  part.  She  was  frightened  at 
the  firing  of  revolvers  in  the  play,  and  told  him  she 
could  not  think  of  a  thing  to  say.  He  replied :  "  Well, 
make  it  up  as  you  go  along,  then.  The  performance 
must  go  on."  And  the  performance  did  go  on  to  the 
end. 

"George  was  very  apt  to  get  into  trouble  with  boys 
older  than  himself.  He  was  always  around  where  cannon 
were  to  be  fired  on  festival  occasions.  One  Fourth  of 
July,  when  he  was  about  eight  years  old,  he  was  so 
anxious  to  be  near  the  cannon  that  was  being  fired  on 
the  Common  that  his  face  was  blown  full  of  powder. 


440 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


We    were,  of   course,  much   frightened   lest    the   accident 
might  prove   serious. 

"But  George  was  a  good  boy,  generous,  brave,  and 
absolutely  fearless.  There  was  nothing  cowardly  about 
him.  To  relate  all  of  his  thoughtful  deeds  when  we  were 
children  together  would  fill  a  book." 


'yman 


oE       tUe     "jEte-itm 


CHAPTER   XV 
DEIVEY'S  ROYAL  ANCESTRY 

THE  LYMAN,  LAMBERT,  OSBORNE,  AND  DEWEY  COATS  OF  ARMS 
-BRIEF  MENTION  OF  OTHER  DEWEYS  PROMINENT  IN  AMER 
ICAN  AFFAIRS 

N  AN  interesting  letter  on  the  sub 
ject  of  George  Dewey's  ancestry, 
Mr.  C.  H.  Browning,  of  Ardmore, 
Pa.,  states  that,  while  it  will  not 
add  a  particle  to  his  fame  ob 
tained  by  the  heroism  and  tact 
displayed  at  the  Battle  of  Manila, 
yet  it  is  agreeable  to  know  that 
he  is,  from  a  genealogical  stand- 
point,  well  born,  and  that  his 
ancestry  is  unsurpassed.  These  assertions  are  vouched  for 
by  statements  bearing  on  his  claims  found  in  Browning's 
"Americans  of  Royal  Descent,"  Douglas's  "Peerage  of  Scot 
land,"  Dugdale's  "  Baronage  of  England,"  Anderson's  "Royal 
Genealogies,"  "The  Magna  Charta  Barons  and  their  American 
Descendants,"  and  other  works  of  like  authority. 

(441) 


442  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Admiral  Dewey's  pedigree  begins  on  the  very  border 
of  mythology  with  Thor,  the  Scandinavian  war  god,  or  cult 
hero,  who,  according  to  the  ancient  chronicles  and  Snorra 
Edda  of  the  Saxons,  was  the  ancestor  in  the  nineteenth  or 
twentieth  generation  of  another  cult  hero,  who  is  almost 
a  myth,  called  variously  Vothinn,  Othinn,  Odin,  Bodo,  and 
Woden,  the  King  of  the  West  Saxons,  A.  D.,  256-300,  who, 
with  his  spouse,  Frea,  were  the  Mars  and  Venus  of  Saxon 
mythology.  This  King  Woden,  the  God  of  War,  is  de 
scribed  as  the  great-great-grandfather  of  the  bugaboos  of 
English  history,  Horsa  and  Hengst,  brothers,  freebooters 
and  pirates,  of  whom  the  Saxon  annals  tell  us  that 
Hengst  was  the  King  of  Saxons,  and  died  between  A.  D. 
474  and  495,  first  King  of  Kent. 

Leaving  this  progenitor  of  the  Saxon  rulers  of  Britain, 
Admiral  Dewey's  royal  lineage  passes  along  the  royal 
Saxon  line  on  the  continent,  through  King  Hengst's  son, 
Prince  Hartwaker,  to  the  historic  King  Dieteric,  and  his 
"famous"  wife  (he  had  others),  Dobrogera,  a  daughter  of 
the  unique  character,  Bellung,  King  of  the  Worder.  Their 
grandson,  Witekind  the  Great,  was  the  last  king  of  the  Sax 
ons,  A.  D.  769-807,  and  then  dwindled  into  only  their  Dukes, 
and  Duke  of  Westphalia,  while  his  descendants  for  a  few 
generations  were  only  Counts  of  Wettin,  until  on  the  gen 
ealogical  line  we  come  to  the  great  Robert — Robert-fortis — 
who,  by  his  sword,  became  Count  of  Anjou  and  Orleans,  Duke 
and  Marquis  of  France,  and  won  the  hand  of  the  fair  Lady 
Alisa,  sister-in-law  to  the  King  of  the  Francs,  Lothar  I. 

This  hero  of  mediaeval  history,  Robert-fortis,  the  great- 
grandson  of  the  great  Witekind,  was  the  founder  of  the 


DEWEY'S  ROYAL  ANCESTRY  443 

so-called  Capetian  line  of  monarchs  of  France,  for  from 
him,  through  a  line  of  Dukes  of  France  and  Burgundy, 
Counts  of  Paris,  etc.,  who  by  their  swords  and  intermar 
riages  became  firmly  seated  on  French  soil,  was  descended 
the  celebrated  Hugh  Capet,  Duke  of  France,  who  usurped 
the  throne  of  France  and  supplanted  Charles,  Duke  of  Lor 
raine,  son  of  Louis  d'Outremer,  and  heir  of  King  Louis  V., 
the  last  Carlovingian,  or  descendant  of  the  great  Emperor 
Charlemagne,  to  occupy  the  "French"  throne. 

'Tis  said  "blood  will  tell."  How  true  it  is  in  Dewey's 
case.  The  blood  of  the  finest  warriors  of  history  tells  in 
him.  He  inherited  the  "knack  of  knowing"  when  to  do 
it  and  how  to  do  it,  and  is  the  peer  of  any  of  his  ances 
tors  from  Hengst  to  Hugh  Capet,  yet  unconsciously  he 
emulated  the  traits  of  many  of  them. 

Two  other  kings  of  the  Capetian  line — Robert  the 
Pious  and  Henry  I.  —  Dewey  numbers  among  his  illustri 
ous  ancestors,  and  Gibbon,  in  his  "Decline  and  Fall  of 
the  Roman  Empire,"  tells  us  of  the  high  lineage  of  one 
of  his  early  ancestresses,  Anne  of  Prussia,  wife  of  Henry 
I.,  of  France.  Gibbon  states  that  she  was  the  daughter 
of  Jaroslaus,  Grand  Duke  or  Czar  of  Russia,  A.  D.  1015- 
1051,  who  was  a  descendant  of  Basil,  the  Macedonian, 
first  Emperor  of  Constantinople,  of  his  line,  A.  D.  867, 
and  that  Basil  was  descended,  on  his  father's  side,  from 
the  Aracides,  the  rivals  of  Rome,  possessors  of  the  scep 
tre  of  the  East  for  four  hundred  years ;  through  a  younger 
branch  of  the  Parthian  monarchs,  reigning  in  Armenia; 
and  on  his  mother's  side,  from  the  European  Constantino 
the  Great,  and  Alexander  the  Great,  the  Macedonian. 


444  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

All  these  illustrious  historic  characters  were  Dewey's 
forbears,  and  so  also  were  many  others  he  nor  any  one 
can  ever  be  proud  of.  But  genealogy,  like  politics, 
makes  strange  bedfellows.  He  was  born  to  these — good, 
bad,  and  indifferent  ancestors  —  they  have  been  discovered 
for  him,  not  manufactured,  and  of  their  attributes  he 
has  inherited  the  best,  so  it  appears. 

Continuing  Dewey's  pedigree,  we  find  that  one  of  his 
ancestors — the  one  necessary  to  connect  him  with  these 
historic  characters  —  was  the  son  of  King  Henry  I.  of 
France,  Hugh  the  Great,  Duke  of  France  and  Burgundy, 
Marquis  of  Orleans  and  Count  of  Paris,  and  through  his 
wife,  Count  of  Vermandois  and  Valois,  a  noted  man  of 
his  day. 

It  is  here  that  Dewey's  pedigree  leaves  the  continent 
and  begins  to  be  a  part  of  English  history.  Dewey's 
ancestress,  Lady  Isabel  de  Vermandois,  was  the  daughter 
of  the  aforesaid  Hugh  Magnus,  and  was  the  first  wife 
(he  was  her  first  husband)  of  Robert  de  Bellomont,  or 
Beaumont,  a  Norman,  Earl  of  Millent,  who  accompanied 
William  of  Normandy  on  his  expedition  to  England,  and 
for  the  part  he  took  in  the  conquest  was  created  in 
1103  Earl  of  Leicester  and  granted  many  manors  in 
England,  dying  in  1118.  He  had  issue  by  Lady  Isabel, 
Robert  Bossu  de  Bellomont,  second  Earl  of  Leicester,  who 
was  Lord  Chief -Justice  of  England,  and  dying  in  1168, 
had  issue  by  his  wife,  Lady  Amelia  or  Amicia,  a  daugh 
ter  of  Ralph  de  Waer,  or  Waher,  who  in  1066  was  the 
Earl  of  Norfolk,  Suffolk,  and  Cambridge,  but  forfeited 
these  earldoms  in  1074,  Robert-Blanch-Mains,  third  Earl 


446  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

who  was  the  ancestor  of  that  Richard  Lyman,  of  High 
Ongar  Manor  in  1580,  who  came  to  the  Massachusetts 
Colony  in  1631  and  died  in  1640  at  Hartford,  Conn.,  of 
which  city  he  was  one  of  the  founders  and  earliest  lot 
owners.  His  grandson,  Richard  Lyman,  of  Windsor,  Conn., 
had  one  daughter,  named  Hepzibah,  who  married,  November 
6, 1662,  Josiah  Dewey  (a  son  of  Thomas  Dewey,  who  came  to 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony  from  Sandwich,  England,  in 
1630),  and  was  the  lineal  ancestor  of  our  gallant  hero, 
Admiral  George  Dewey. 

More  briefly  stated,  the  pedigree,  both  curious  and  in 
teresting,  is  as  follows  :  — 

(1)  Charlemagne,  Emperor,  etc.,  had 

(2)  Pepin,  King  of  Italy,  who  had 

(3)  Bernard,  King  of  Italy,  who  had 

(4)  Pepin,  Count  de  Vermandois,  840,  who  had 

(5)  Herbert  I.,  Count  de  Vermandois,  died  902,  who  had 

(6)  Herbert  II.,  Count  de  Vermandois,  died  943,  who  had 

(7)  Albert   I.,  the   Pious,  Count   de   Vermandois,  943-987,  who   had 
by  his  wife  Gerberga,  a  daughter  of  Louis  IV.  of  France 

(8)  Herbert  III.,  Count  de  Vermandois,  who  had 

(9)  Otho,  Count  de  Vermandois,  1021-1045,  who  had 

(10)  Herbert  IV.,  Count  de  Vermandois,  1045-1080,  who  had 

(11)  Countess     Adelar,     heiress,     1080-1117,     who     married     Hugh 
Magnus,    son  of  Henry  L,    King  of  France,    by  Anne  of  Prussia,    and 
had 

(12)  Lady  Isabel   de  Vermandois,  who   married   Robert,  first   Baron 
de  Bellomont,  created  Earl  of  Leicester  and  Mellent,  and  had 

(13)  Robert,  second   Earl  of  Leicester,  Lord  Chief-Justice  of  Eng 
land,  who  had 

(14)  Robert,    third    Earl    of   Leicester,    Steward    of    England,    who 
had 

(15)  Lady  Margaret   de   Bellomont,  who   married   Saire   de   Quincy, 
created  Earl  of  Winchester,  1207,  died   1219,  leaving 


DEWEY'S  ROYAL  ANCESTRY  447 

(16)  Roger,    second    Earl    of    Winchester,    Constable    of     Scotland, 
married  Lady  Helen,  daughter  of  Alan,  Lord  of  Galloway,   died  1264, 
leaving 

(17)  Lady    Elizabeth    de    Quincy,   who    married    Alexander,    Baron 
Comyn,  second    Earl    of    Buchan,   grandson    of    Richard,   Baron    Comyn, 
Chief-Justice    of   Scotland,  and  his  wife,  Lady  Hexilda,  granddaughter 
of  Donalbane,  King  of  Scots,  who  had 

(18)  Lady    Agnes    Comyn,  who    married    Gilbert,   Baron   de   Umfra- 
ville,  and  had 

(19)  Gilbert,  Baron  de   Umfraville,  Earl   of  Angus,  by  right  of  his 
first  wife  ;  married   1243,  Matilda,  Countess  of  Angus,  and  had 

(20)  Robert  de  Umfraville,  second  Earl  of  Angus,  who  had,  by  his 
second  wife,  Lady  Alansee, 

(21)  Sir    Thomas    de    Umfraville,   of    Harbottle,   younger    son,   who 
married  Lady  Joane,  daughter  of  Adam  de  Rodam,  and  had 

(22)  Sir    Thomas  de    Umfraville,  Lord   of   Riddesdale    and    Kyme, 
who  had  by  his  wife,  Lady  Agnes 

(23)  Lady   Joane   de   Umfraville,  who    married    Sir    William    Lam 
bert,  of  Owlton,   Durham,  and  had 

(24)  Robert   Lambert,  of  Owlton  (or  Owton),  father  of 

(25)  Henry  Lambert,  of  Ongar,  Essex,  father  of 

(26)  Elizabeth  Lambert,  who  married  Thomas  Lyman,  of  Navistoke, 
Essex,  died  1509,  leaving 

(27)  Henry   Lyman,  of    Navistoke   and    High    Ongar,  who    married 
Alicia,  daughter  of  Simon  Hyde,  of  Wethersfield,  Essex,  and  had 

(28)  John   Lyman,  of  High  Ongar,  who  married  Margaret,  daughter 
of    William    Girard,    of   Beauchamp,    Essex,    died    at    Navistoke,    1589, 
leaving 

(29)  Henry  Lyman,  of  High  Ongar,  whose  son 

(30)  Richard  Lyman,  born   1580,  at  High  Ongar,  removed  to  Rox- 
bury,  Mass.,  in  1631,  died   1640,    at  Hartford,   Conn.,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  original  proprietors.     He  had  issue  by  his  first  wife,  Sarah, 

(31)  Robert    Lyman,  who    married   Hepzibah,  daughter   of    Thomas 
Bascom,  and  had 

(32)  Richard  Lyman,  of  Windsor,  who  married  Hepzibah,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Ford,  and  had 

(33)  Hepzibah  Lyman,  who  married   Josiah  Dewey,  born  1641,  died 
after  1731,  and  had 


448  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

(34)  Josiah  Dewey,  Jr.,  born  1666,   who  married  Mehitable  Miller, 
and  had 

(35)  William  Uewey,  who  married  Mercy   Bailey  in   1716,  and  had 

(36)  Simeon     Dewey,  born     1718,  died     1750,  who     married    Anna 
Phelps,  born  1719,  died   1801,  and  had 

(37)  William  Dewey,  born  1746,  died  1813,   who  married  Rebecca 
Carrier,  born   1746,  died  1837,  and  had 

(38)  Simeon  Dewey,  born   1770,   died   1863,  who  married  Prudence 
Yemans,  born   1772,  died   1844,  and  had 

(39)  Julius    Yemans    Dewey,  born    1801,   died    1877,  who    married 
Mary  Pen-in,  born   1799,  died   1843,  and  had 

(40)  George  Dewey,  the  present  Admiral,   born  1837,  who  married 
Susie  B.  Goodwin. 

In  England  no  person  is  permitted  to  use  a  coat  of 
arms  or  heraldic  device  to  which  he  is  not  entitled,  and 
offenders  are  punished  by  either  fine  or  imprisonment. 
In  the  Middle  Ages  coats  of  arms  were  considered  as 
hereditary  marks  of  honor.  They  consisted  of  certain 
fixed  figures  and  colors  conferred  by  sovereign  princes  at 
first,  and  generally  as  a  reward  for  military  achievements ; 
but  subsequently  also  in  recognition  of  some  signal  public 
service  not  necessarily  of  a  military  character,  and  served 
to  denote  the  descent  and  alliance  of  the  bearer.  These 
marks  of  honor  are  called  "arms"  from  their  being  prin 
cipally  and  at  first  worn  only  by  military  men  in  war 
and  at  tournaments,  who  had  them  depicted  on  their 
shields.  As  these  devices  were  embroidered  upon  coats 
worn  over  the  armor  they  were  called  "coats  of  arms." 
A  knight's  coat  of  arms  and  crest  was  his  distinction  from 
others  and  was  guarded  as  his  honor. 

Elsewhere  in  this  book  appear  four  plates,  showing  the 
royal  arms  of  the  Lyman,  Lambert,  Osborne,  and  Dewey 


1~LYMAN 

2~TRETHEWY 

3~l_AMBERT 

4-CRESEY 

5~LAMBERT 

6-PlCKERING 

7-UMFRAVILLE 

8-TORINGTON 


9-ANGUS 
10-BERKELEY 
1 1-RODAM 
12-HYDE    ' 
13-GlRARD 
14-SCQTT 
15-OSBORNE 
16-LYMAN 


DEWEY'S   KOYAL   AK( 

. i  England ,    Fol i  o  \v ] ng  are  f  I ie 
•  -   same,    as    given    in    an    estn 
aidry:- 

TII1-:    I.  Y  At  AN    AKMN 

Anns  —  Per    Chevron,   tru,   ;nni    ar. ;    hi    hn 
Crest  —  A  d^iri  bull,  ar.;   .^',"i<{  anf,l    h • -• 
Motto-     -<,'•    HI    \'«-»ruin    Tutain.*' 

Thesr  •«  tiie   arrn> 
Hiclinrd    J  ,yinan.   ui    ^  -i---.' •-- 

\\'ln'i     11  RUTH'  1 

Lif   Admiral 


Jovial  i    Devvoy. 

Tho   JirnH   shown 


450  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

11,    Rodam;    12,    Hyde;    13,   Girard;    14,    Scott;     15,    Osborne ;     16, 
Lyinan.     The    crest    and    motto    are    those   of    the    Lyman    family. 

THE    DEWEY    ARMS 

The  arms  of  the  Dewey  family  are  very  old.  Edward 
Wilkins  Dewey,  of  New  York  city,  while  searching  for 
records  of  the  Dewey  family  among  the  archives  of  the 
British  Museum,  discovered  an  old  parchment  book  on 
heraldry,  evidently  written  before  the  time  of  the  print 
ing  press,  in  which  he  found  the  following:  — 

Uewe:  (Bucks).  —  Sa.  on  a  fess  between  three  dragons'  heads 
erased  or.,  langued  gu.,  as  many  cinquefoils  of  the  field. 

Crest.  —  A  dragon's  head  between  two  wings  expanded  sa.,  on 
each  a  cinquefoil  or. 

This  description  is  probably  the  original  coat  of  arms 
given  to  the  family  which  was  at  that  time  located  in 
Bucks  County. 

The  interpretation  of  the  above  is  as  follows:  — 

Arms.  —  The  shield  is  sable  (black)  with  a  gold  fess  (band)  run 
ning  across  it  horizontally,  on  which  are  three  black  cinquefoils  (or 
five-leaved  clover);  above  the  fess  are  two  dragons'  heads  erased 
( forcibly  torn  off,  leaving  the  separated  parts  jagged  and  uneven ) 
and  one  under  also  erased.  All  three  of  gold  and  langued  gu.  (with 
red  tongues  ) . 

Crest.- — A  dragon's  head  between  two  wings  expanded  sa.,  on  each 
a  cinquefoil  or. 

In  other  words  the  dragon's  head  and  wings  are 
black,  and  on  each  is  a  cinquefoil  of  gold. 

Motto.  —  "Corona  Veniet  Delectis,"  which  means:  "A  crown  will 
come  to  those  deserving  it." 

This  motto  has  not  been  found  among  the  records  of 
any  established  authority  on  this  subject,  and  may  be 


MONUMENT  TO  THE  FIRST  DEWEY  BORN  IN  AMERICA,   NOW  STANDING  IN  THE 
OLD  CEMETERY  AT  WESTFIELD,   MASS. 


DEWEY'S  ROYAL  ANCESTRY 


453 


said  to  be  a 
tradition 
of  the  Amer 
ican  family. 
Mr.  Sherman 
Dewey,  in  a  re 
cord  written 
in  1795,  gives 
this  motto  as 
being  handed 
down  to  him 
by  his  fore 
fathers,  and 
it  is  undoubt 
edly  correct. 

In  Burke's 
"Heraldry" 
we  find  a 
later  descrip 
tion  of  the 
arms  of  the 

Dewey     family      in     Norfolk     County,     England,     as     fol 
lows  :  — 

Dewy.  —  Sa.  on  a  fess  argent,  between  three  dragons'  heads  erased 
or.,  as  many  cinquefoils  of  the  field. 

The  difference  being  that  the  fess  is  of  silver  instead 
of  gold,  and  the  dragons'  tongues  are  of  the  same  color 
as  the  heads,  gold.  This  shows  the  connection  between 
the  Dewe  family  of  Bucks  County  and  the  Dewy  family 
of  Statfield,  in  Norfolk  County.  There  are  several  other 


REV.   DR.  ORVILLE   DEWEY 


454  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

arms,  but   of  a  later  date,  given  to  one  family  in  Kent, 
described   as   follows:  — 

Dewe.  — Gu.  a  cliev.  ar.  between  nine  plates,  five  and  four.  Arms 
given  to  a  family  of  Dewe,  or  D'Ewes,  of  Stowlangtoft,  bart.,  which 
was  extinct  in  1736,  are  as  follows  :  "  Or,  a  fess  vair  between  three 
quatrefoils  gu."  Another  is,  "Dewey.—  Ar.  a  pile  gu."  All  are  now 
extinct  in  England. 

The  Dewey  arms  shown  in  this  book  are  said  to  have 
belonged  to  one  Simeon  Dewey,  supposed  to  have  been 
the  father  of  Thomas  Dewey,  who  came  to  America  with 
the  Reverend  Warham  in  1630.  Simeon  Dewey  was  cre 
ated  a  Baronet  of  Stow  Hall  in  1629. 

In  order  that  the  reader  may  know  something  of  the 
family  from  which  Admiral  George  Dewey  has  descended, 
we  have  deemed  it  best  to  devote  a  few  pages  of  space  to 
a  brief  history  of  the  Dewey  family  in  America. 

The  origin  of  this  name  is  somewhat  obscure,  but  is 
supposed  to  have  originated  in  French  Flanders,  some  of 
the  Deweys  having  come  from  Douai,  France,  to  England 
with  William  the  Conqueror,  and  settled  in  Lincolnshire. 
But  there  are  families  of  Deweys  in  the  United  States 
who  have  come  from  England,  Ireland,  Denmark,  and 
Norway. 

The  family  in  America  traces  its  lineage  direct  to  one 
THOMAS  DEWEY,  who  came  to  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Col 
ony  from  Sandwich  in  Kent,  England,  in  1630.  with  the 
Reverend  John  Warham  and  his  little  band  of  persecuted 
Christians,  and  settled  in  Dorchester.  Thomas  Dewey  was 
essentially  a  settler,  and  after  about  five  years  made  an 
other  move  to  still  newer  fields  and  became  one  of  the 


DKVVK'i 


T  h  *•     s  e  1  1  U; 
merit    of    an 


in     Conner?-, 
cut.     Her* 
16.39,  be  i?-. 
ried  th* 


:N'T    HA  wiv-,.    •ia 
u,ad   ton  cliil«hvu. 

*  ttn  as  the  T!i 


•'     J^^,  ^a-f.    X  - 

ffir    of    Uifhafsi    't»ju    *U?*/  ^-u:     ;•  »»fx 
.i  r^j'i,  au<I  became  tht    M>-;^I  uf  ?li*%  -S-t%i;fa  ^T^r^-i^ 
^v  fiimiiy,    Upory'e  .lH-vv*-y,  T-lu>   pr-^^-iji  Adnnrat 
^aut  i/f  Josnih    i.H-^t-\  r  ici»d   i>  <»i"  1     •   Uintii  jx^ti 
!  hoinas 


456  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Josiah  Dewey  the  first  was  a  capenter  by  trade,  and 
an  active  and  influential  citizen  of  his  time  and  place. 
His  marriage  to  the  daughter  of  Richard  Lyman,  the  set 
tler,  was  the  tie  which  brought  to  the  descendants  of  this 
line  of  the  Dewey  family  what  they  are  now  pleased  to 
term  "  royal  blood,"  the  Lymans  having  descended  through 
twenty-seven  generations  from  the  Emperor  Charlemagne, 
there  also  being  in  this  line  two  kings,  seven  counts,  one 
prince,  six  earls,  and  numerous  lords  and  ladies  of  the 
royal  families  of  England,  Prussia,  France,  and  Italy. 

ANNA  DEWEY,  baptized  October  15,  1643,  who  married 
JOHN  WOODWARD,  May  18,  1671,  at  Northampton,  Mass.,  and 
had  six  children. 

ISRAEL  DEWEY,  born  September  25,  1645,  who  married 
August  20,  1668,  at  Northampton,  Mass.,  ABIGAIL  DRAKE, 
daughter  of  Sergeant  Job  and  Mary  (Wolcott),  and  had 
four  children,  and  became  the  head  of  the  Israel  branch 
of  the  Dewey  family. 

JEDEDIAH  DEWEY,  born  December  15,  1647,  who  married 
in  1670,  at  Farmington,  Conn.,  SARAH  ORTON,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Margaret  (Pell),  and  had  ten  children,  and  became 
the  head  of  the  Jedediah  branch  of  the  Dewey  family. 

Following  the  line  of  George  Dewey's  ancestors  direct, 
we  next  come  to  JOSIAH  DEWEY  the  second,  son  of 
Josiah  the  first,  born  December  24,  1666;  date  of  his 
death  is  not  known;  he  married,  January  15,  1691,  at 
Westfield,  Mass.,  MEHITABLE  MILLER,  daughter  of  William 
and  Patience  Miller,  of  Westfield,  and  had  six  children. 
By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer,  and  was  much  respected 
by  his  associates. 


HON.    CHARLES     DEWEY 
WILLIAM   TARBOX   DEWEY 


MARY   PERRIN    DEWEY-GREELEY 
ADMIRAL    GEORGE    DEWEY 
GEORGE  GOODWIN   DEWEY 


CAPT.   EDWARD    DEWEY 
THEODORE  GIBBS  DEWEY 


DEWEY'S   ROYAL  ANCESTRY  459 

WILLIAM  DEWEY,  next  in  the  line,  was  born  in  Jan 
uary  1692  at  Northampton,  Mass.,  and  died  at  Lebanon, 
Conn.,  November  10,  1759.  He  married  July  2,  1713,  at 
Lebanon,  MERCY  BAILEY,  and  had  nine  children,  seven  of 
whom  became  heads  of  families. 

SIMEON  DEWEY,  son  of  William,  born  May  1,  1718,  at 
Lebanon,  Conn.,  and  died  there  March  2,  1751.  He  was 
a  farmer  by  occupation.  Married,  March  29,  1739,  at  Leb 
anon,  ANNA  PHELPS. 

WILLIAM  DEWEY,  son  of  Simeon,  born  January  11, 
1746,  at  Lebanon,  Conn.;  died  June  10,  1813,  at  Han 
over,  N.  H.  Served  in  the  Continental  Army  as  a 
corporal  in  1775.  Was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  spent 
his  last  years  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil  on  the  banks  of 
the  Connecticut  River.  He  married,  in  1768,  REBECCA 
CARRIER,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Rebecca  (Rockwell), 
and  had  thirteen  children. 

CAPTAIN  SIMEON  DEWEY,  son  of  William,  was  born 
August  20,  1770,  at  Hebron,  Conn.,  and  died  January  11, 
1863,  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Julius  Yemans  Dewey, 
at  Montpelier,  Vt.  He  was  a  farmer,  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  a  deputy  sheriff,  and  also  filled  other  town  and 
county  offices.  He  married,  February  27,  1794,  PRUDENCE 
YEMANS,  of  Norwich,  Vt.,  and  had  eight  children,  Julius 
Yemans  Dewey  being  the  fourth  child. 

JULIUS  YEMANS  DEWEY,  son  of  Simeon,  was  born  Au 
gust  22,  1801,  at  Berlin,  Vt.,  and  died  May  29,  1877, 
at  Montpelier,  Vt.  He  graduated  from  the  medical 
department  of  the  University  of  Vermont  in  1824,  and 
practiced  with  great  success  till  1850,  when  he  was 


460  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

appointed  general  agent  and  medical  examiner  for  the 
National  Life  Insurance  Company.  One  year  later  he 
was  appointed  president  of  the  company,  and  held  that 
position  until  the  day  of  his  death ;  he  was  really  the 
founder  of  the  company.  For  many  years  he  was  a  war 
den,  vestryman,  and  treasurer  of  Christ  Episcopal  Church 
of  Montpelier.  Governor  Crafts  appointed  him  surgeon 
of  the  First  Regiment,  State  militia.  He  was  a  man  of 
decided  convictions,  which  he  never  hesitated  to  avow 
and  defend ;  courageous  and  aggressive  in  everything  he 
undertook.  He  married,  June  9,  1825,  at  Berlin,  Vt., 
MARY  PERRIN,  daughter  of  Zachariah  and  Mary  (Talcott), 
a  most  estimable  woman,  who  became  the  mother  of  all 
of  Doctor  Dewey's  children.  She  died  September  3,  1843, 
at  Montpelier,  and  he  married  again  for  the  second  time 
on  August  3,  1845,  MRS.  SUSAN  EDSON  TARBOX,  of  Ran 
dolph,  Vt.  She  died  September  11,  1854,  and  for  the 
third  time  he  married,  on  March  9,  1855,  MRS.  SUSAN 
ELIZABETH  (GRIGGS)  LILLEY,  of  Worcester,  Mass. 

By  his  first  wife  Doctor  Dewey  had  four  children, 
brief  sketches  of  whom  follow :  — 

HONORABLE  CHARLES  DEWEY,  born  March  27,  1826,  at 
Montpelier,  Vt.  He  was  prepared  for  college  in  the 
Washington  County  grammar  school  in  Montpelier,  and 
was  graduated  from  the  University  of  Vermont  in  the 
class  of  1845.  Immediately  after  leaving  the  university 
he  was  appointed  assistant  secretary  of  the  Vermont 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  becoming,  in  January 
1850,  its  secretary,  and  served  as  such  until  1871  ;  he 
was  also  a  director  for  thirty  years.  In  January  1851 


DEWEY'S   ROYAL  ANCESTRY 


461 


he  was  elected  a  director  in  the  National  Life  Insurance 
Company ;  its  vice-president  twenty  years  later ;  suc 
ceeded  his  father  as  president  of  the  company  in  June 
1877,  and  was  still  the  incumbent  of  that  office  in  April 


CAPT.  SAMUEL  W.   DEWEY 

1899.  Was  three  times  chosen  State  senator  from  his  dis 
trict,  and  has  held  many  positions  of  trust  by  appoint 
ment  of  the  Governor  of  his  State ;  he  was  at  one  time 
State  Inspector  of  Finance  and  declined  a  reappointment. 
He  has  been  a  vestryman  in  Christ  Church  for  forty-five 


462  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

years,  and  for  seventeen  years  its  senior  warden;  lay 
delegate  from  his  church  to  the  Episcopal  Diocesan  Con 
vention  for  over  forty  years,  and  a  delegate  to  the  Gen 
eral  Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  1883 ;  for 
forty-three  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Agents  for 
the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts ;  a 
trustee  of  the  Washington  County  grammar  school  since 
1864,  and  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  since  1879 ; 
a  trustee  of  Norwich  University  for  many  years,  and 
treasurer  of  the  board  of  trustees.  He  married,  May  8, 
1848,  BETSEY  TARBOX,  daughter  of  Lund  and  Susan  (Ed- 
son).  They  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  at  Mont- 
pelier,  Vt,  May  3,  1898,— two  days  after  his  distinguished 
brother  had  entered  the  bay  of  Manila.  They  had  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  living. 

EDWARD  DEWEY,  Captain,  the  second  son  of  Doctor 
Dewey,  was  born  at  Montpelier,  March  27,  1829;  he 
was  fitted  for  college,  but  chose  to  enter  upon  a  mer 
cantile  life  instead;  he  followed  the  same  until  1860, 
when  he  was  appointed  assistant  secretary  of  the  Ver 
mont  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  which  position  he 
held  until  1864,  when  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
United  States  as  quartermaster  of  the  Eighth  Vermont 
Volunteers;  he  joined  the  regiment  in  Louisiana,  and  in 
July  accompanied  it  to  Virginia,  where  it  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Oquequan  and  Cedar  Creek;  on  Feb 
ruary  11,  1865,  he  was  promoted  to  be  captain  and 
assistant  quartermaster  in  the  staff  department  of  United 
States  volunteers,  which  position  he  resigned  four  months 
later.  Upon  his  return  home  he  was  elected  assistant 


DEWEY'S   ROYAL  ANCESTRY  463 

secretary  of  the  National  Life  Insurance  Company,  and 
later  was  also  made  actuary  of  the  same.  In  June 
1877  he  was  elected  vice-president  of  the  company,  and 
continued  in  that  office  for  twenty  years ;  he  has  been 
a  director  of  the  company  since  1866;  he  was  elected 
a  vestryman  of  Christ  Church  in  1870,  and  still  holds 
that  office.  He  married,  August  27,  1856,  SUSAN  GRIGGS 
LILLEY,  daughter  of  Gibbs  and  Susan  Elizabeth  (Griggs), 
of  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  had  six  children. 

ADMIRAL  GEORGE  DEWEY,  third  son  of  Julius  Yemans 
Dewey,  was  born  December  26,  1837,  at  Montpelier,  Vt. 
Married,  October  24,  1867,  SUSIE  B.  GOODWIN,  daughter 
of  Governor  Ichabod  and  Sarah  Parker  (Rice),  and  had 
one  child,  George  Goodwin  Dewey,  born  December  23, 
1872,  at  Newport,  R.  I.  She  died  at  Newport,  December 
28,  1872.  George  Goodwin  Dewey  was  graduated  at  St. 
Paul's  School,  Concord,  N.  H.,  and  at  Princeton  College. 
He  is  engaged  in  mercantile  business  in  New  York. 

MARY  PERRIN  DEWEY,  only  daughter  of  Dr.  Julius 
Yemans  and  Mary  Perrin,  his  wife,  was  born  October  26, 
1839,  in  Montpelier,  Vt.  Before  she  was  four  years  of  age,  her 
beloved  mother,  after  an  illness  of  eight  months,  was  taken 
away.  Her  father  married  a  second  time  in  1845,  and 
on  the  death  of  his  second  wife  in  1854  he  married  a 
third  time  in  1855,  both  of  these  stepmothers  being  most 
tender  and  devoted  in  their  care  of  the  doctor's  children, 
and  most  estimable  women  withal.  Mary  was  educated 
in  a  private  school  for  a  time,  and  later  attended  the 
Montpelier  Academy.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  she  was  sent 
to  a  boarding  school  at  Burlington,  Vt.,  and  one  year  later 


464 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL   DEWEY 


HON.   DR.   JOHN    DEWEY 


was  sent  to  St.  Mary's  Hall  at 
Burlington,  N.  J.,  a  school  under 
the  supervision  of  Bishop  George 
W.  Doane.  She  remained  there 
two  years,  and  there  formed 
many  friendships  which  still  ex 
ist.  January  10,  1861,  she  be 
came  the  wife  of  George  Preston 
Greeley,  of  Nashua,  N.  H.,  a  young 
physician.  He  had  been  a  stu 
dent  at  old  Norwich  University, 
then  at  Norwich,  Vt.  At  the  age 
of  twenty  he  went  to  the  East 
Indies  as  supercargo  on  a  mer 
chant  vessel  from  Boston. 
During  his  absence  —  over  a 
year  —  he  determined  upon 
his  future.  After  he  returned 
home  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine,  and  after  courses 
of  lectures  at  Woodstock,  Vt., 
at  Hanover,  N.  H.,  medical 
college,  and  at  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons 
in  New  York,  where  he  re 
ceived  his  degree,  and  after 
some  service  in  hospital  at 
Chelsea,  Mass.,  he  began  his 
work.  At  the  time  of  mar 
riage  Doctor  Greeley  was 


DEWEY'S   ROYAL  ANCESTRY 


465 


settled  in  Hollis,  N.  H.  In 
August  of  that  year — 1861 
-he  was  commissioned  as 
sistant  surgeon  of  the  Fourth 
New  Hampshire  Regiment  of 
Volunteers,  and  with  his  regi 
ment  was  ordered  to  Hilton 
Head,  S.  C.,  and  thence  to 
St.  Augustine,  Fla.  After  a 
few  months  he  was  made 
surgeon  of  the  regiment. 
During  the  winter  and  spring 
of  1863,  while  Doctor  Greeley 
was  in  charge  of  Hospital 
No.  4,  at  Beaufort,  S.  C., 
Mrs.  Greeley  was  with  him. 
At  that  time  all  was  "  quiet  on  the  Potomac."  But 
at  New  Orleans  there  was  less  quiet  —  some  splendid 
action  by  the  Navy,  in  which  her  brother  George  was 
engaged.  When  Surgeon  Greeley  was  ordered  to  Folly 
Island  with  his  regiment,  his  wife  returned  to  her  home  in 
the  North.  Doctor  Greeley  was  at  home  on  sick  leave 
during  several  months  of  the  summer  of  1863.  When 
he  returned  it  was  to  see  hard  service  in  the  Army  of 
the  James,  before  Petersburg,  and  at  other  places.  His 
brother-in-law,  then  Lieutenant  George  Dewey,  served  on 
the  gunboat  Agawam  of  the  North  Atlantic  squadron, 
and  they  met  several  times  at  and  near  City  Point  dur 
ing  the  summer  of  1864.  When  the  Fourth  New  Hamp 
shire  Regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the  service,  Doctor 

D  — 30 


HIRAM  TODD  DEWEY 


466 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


A.  M.  DEWEY 


Greeley  was  commissioned 
surgeon  of  the  Ninth  Regi 
ment  of  United  States  Vet 
eran  Volunteers.  His  wife 
was  with  him  while  on  duty 
as  medical  examiner  of  re 
cruits  at  Elmira  and  Lock- 
port,  N.  Y.  Afterward,  when 
he  was  stationed  at  Indian 
apolis,  Ind.,  Mrs.  Greeley  was 
with  him  during  the  winter 
of  1865,  and  until  he  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service 
in  June  1866,  the  war  being 
ended.  After  journeying 

westward  to  St.  Louis  and  beyond,  they  returned  to  the 

East.    After   a   winter    in   New 

York  city,  spent  in  visiting  hos 
pitals  and  in  study,  Doctor  Gree 
ley  finally  located  in  Boston, 

Mass.      Their    home    was    there 

for    many    years.     Later    they 

lived   in    Nashua,   N.   H.,  where 

(as    in    Boston)    Doctor   Greeley 

was  engaged  in  the  practice  of 

his  profession.    He  was  especially 

fond  of  surgery.     In   1883  they 

went  to  Florida  for  the  winter. 

Doctor  Greeley  bought  land,  and 

became  interested  in  orange  and  REV.  SANGER  DEWEY 


DEWEY'S  ROYAL  ANCESTRY 


467 


lemon  culture.  The  greater  part  of  every  succeeding  year 
they  were  in  St.  Augustine  and  Duke,  Fla.,  where  Doctor 
Greeley  died  December  26,  1892.  Since  the  death  of  her 
husband  Mrs.  Greeley  has  made  her  home  near  her  own 
people  in  her  native  village  of  Montpelier,  Vt. 

WILLIAM  TARBOX  DEWEY,  Lieutenant,  son  of  the  Honor 
able  Charles  and  grandson  of  Dr.  Julius  Yemans  Dewey, 
was  born  September  30,  1852,  at  Montpelier,  Vt.;  he  be 
gan  work  as  an  assistant  to  the  secretary  of  the  Vermont 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company,  August  1,  1870;  was 
elected  a  director  of  the  company  in  October  1882,  and 
was  chosen  treasurer  of  the  same,  May  7,  1891,  which 
position  he  still  held  in  1899.  He  enlisted  as  private  in 
Vermont  National  Guards,  Company  H,  First  Regiment, 
September  28,  1880,  and  resigned  as  first  lieutenant  in  1886 ; 
he  served  his  village  as  trustee  in  1886  and  1887 ;  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Depart 
ment  for  seventeen  years,  and 
at  one  time  president  of  his 
company ;  also  treasurer  of  the 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts;  he 
has  spent  much  time  and  money 
in  searching  and  compiling  rec 
ords  of  the  Dewey  family  in 
America,  and  was  one  of  the 
Admiral's  immediate  family  who 
greatly  assisted  the  author  in 
the  preparation  of  this  work. 
He  married,  November  9,  1881, 


JUDGE  FRANCIS  H.  DEWEY 


468 


LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


ALBERT  G.  DEWEY 


ALICE  ELMORE  FRENCH,  daughter 
of  James  Gale  and  Orlantha 
(Goldsbury),  and  had  three  chil 
dren,  two  of  whom  were  living 
at  home  in  Montpelier  in  1899. 
THEODORE  GIBBS  DEWEY,  Lieu 
tenant,  son  of  Captain  Edward 
and  grandson  of  Dr.  Julius  Ye- 
mans  Dewey,  was  born  Febru 
ary  10,  1859 ;  graduated  from 
the  Annapolis  Naval  Academy 
as  cadet  midshipman  in  June 
1880 ;  reported  on  board  the 
United  States  flagship  Richmond 

on  the  Asiatic  station  September  6,  1880,  and  remained 
on  her  till  May  1882,  when  he  was  ordered  home  for  ex 
amination  for  promotion.  Appointed  midshipman  June 
22,  1882,  and  on  October  25  was  ordered  to  the  United 
States  Steamship  Wabash;  joined  the  Kearsarge,  North 
Atlantic  squadron,  December  11,  1882;  commissioned  as 
ensign  (junior  grade)  March  3,  1883;  detached  from  the 
Kearsarge  June  17  of  the  same  year,  and  ordered  to  duty 
in  the  United  States  coast  survey;  while  on  this  duty 
was  attached  to  the  schooner  Stillman,  surveying  in  Long 
Island  Sound ;  commanded  the  sloop  Steadfast,  surveying 
on  the  east  coast  of  Florida,  and  on  the  steamer  Patter 
son,  surveying  in  southeastern  Alaska ;  commissioned  as 
ensign  in  June  1884 ;  joined  the  United  States  Steam 
ship  Thetis  in  New  York  in  January  1887,  and  went  to 
Alaska  on  special  duty,  cruising  in  Bering  Sea  and  the 


DEWEY'S  ROYAL  ANCESTRY 


469 


GOV.   NELSON   DEWEY 


Arctic  Ocean.  While  attached  to 
the  Thetis,  the  whaling  schooner 
Jane  Gray  was  found  floating  on 
her  beam  ends  in  the  ice  to  the 
eastward  of  Point  Barrow,  where 
she  had  been  abandoned  by  her 
crew.  After  she  had  been  raised 
and  temporarily  repaired,  he  took 
her  with  a  crew  of  seven  men 
and  proceeded  to  the  Mare 
Island  Navy  Yard,  where  she 
was  turned  over  to  her  owner. 
Ensign  Dewey  was  detached  from 
the  Thetis  in  February  1889  and 
was  on  duty  at  the  office  of  Naval  Intelligence  and  the 
receiving  ship  Independence  from  April  1889  to  April  1891, 
when  he  was  ordered  to  the  flagship  Chicago,  North  At 
lantic  station,  December  1,  1891,  and  while  attached  to 
this  vessel  was  at  La  Guayra  during  the  revolution  in 
Venezuela,  and  lay  at  Montevideo  with  the  other  vessels 
of  the  squadron  pending  the  settlement  of  the  threatened 
war  with  Chili.  He  proceeded  to  Europe  when  the  Chicago 
became  the  flagship  on  that  station,  and  on  September 
27,  1893,  was  promoted  to  lieutenant  (junior  grade);  in 
January  1894  was  transferred  to  the  Bennington,  which 
was  ordered  to  the  Pacific  via  the  Straits  of  Magellan, 
going  to  Salvador  to  protect  American  interests  during 
the  revolution  in  that  republic.  He  was  detached  from  the 
Bennington  in  November  of  the  same  year,  and  ordered  to 
the  office  of  Naval  War  Records,  remaining  on  that  duty 


470 


LIFE  OF  ADMIKAL  DEWEY 


JAMES  B.  DEWEY 


till  June  1896,  when  he  was 
ordered  to  the  United  States 
Steamship  Massachusetts;  while  on 
this  vessel  he  participated  in  the 
various  bombardments  of  Santi 
ago.  He  convoyed  the  army  under 
General  Miles  from  Santiago 
to  Porto  Rico,  and  co-operated 
at  the  taking  of  Guanica  and 
Ponce;  promoted  to  lieutenant 
in  June  1897.  He  married,  Feb 
ruary  6, 1889,  MARIA  GILLIS  BRAD 
LEY,  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  and 
had  two  children. 
All  of  the  foregoing  Deweys  are  members  of  the 
branch  and  line  of  Admiral  George  Dewey.  There  are 
other  members  of  the  family  of  Dewey,  however,  who 
have  achieved  fame  and  fortune  in  the  field  of  military 
and  commercial  endeavor,  as  well  as  in  the  arena  of 
theology,  journalism,  and  politics.  The  mention  of  a 
few  of  them  will  suffice  to  show  that  the  Deweys  have 
ever  held  a  high  place  in  the  affairs  of  State  and  Na 
tion. 

Captain  Elijah  Dewey,  of  Vermont,  son  of  the  Rev 
erend  Jedediah  Dewey,  the  "fighting  parson,"  a  Revolu 
tionary  soldier  of  note. 

Honorable  Daniel  Dewey,  second,  Member  of  Congress 
from  Massachusetts  early  in  this  century,  member  of 
Governor's  Council,  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
one  of  the  best-known  men  in  his  State. 


DEWEY'S  ROYAL  ANCESTRY 


471 


ADDICE    E.  DEWEY 


Captain  Samuel  W.  Dewey,  of 
Philadelphia,  famous  as  the  man 
who  sawed  the  figurehead  of 
Jackson  from  the  prow  of  ship 
Constitution  as  she  lay  at  anchor 
in  Boston  harbor.  He  died  in 
Philadelphia,  June  10,  1899. 

General  Joel  A.  Dewey,  of 
Tennessee,  eminent  as  a  soldier, 
lawyer,  and  jurist. 

Major  Israel  Otis  » Dewey,  of 
Vermont,  an  officer  in  the 
Regular  Army  of  the  United 
States. 

Governor  Nelson  Dewey,  of  Wisconsin,  the  first  elected 
governor  of  that  Commonwealth. 

Judge  Almon  Ralph  Dewey,  of  Iowa,  prominent  in 
that  State  as  a  jurist  and  lawyer,  and  conspicuous  in 
Masonic  circles. 

Reverend  Willis  C.  Dewey,  of  Illinois,  a  missionary  to 
Turkey. 

Honorable  Albert  Gallatin  Dewey,  of  Vermont,  a 
manufacturer  and  merchant. 

Professor  Melvil  Dewey,  of  New  York,  Secretary  of 
the  State  Board  of  Regents  and  Director  of  the  Uni 
versity  of  New  York. 

Honorable  Hiram  Dewey,  of  northern  New  York,  a 
pioneer  in  that  section,  a  man  of  extraordinary  energy, 
and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Watertown  Fire  Insur 
ance  Company. 


472 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


REV.  WILLIS  C.   DEWEY 


Hiram  Todd  Dewey,  of  New 
York  city,  the  pioneer  wine 
producer  in  America. 

Chauncey  Dewey,  of  Ohio,  a 
lawyer,  and  the  personal  friend  of 
President  Lincoln  and  Secretary 
Stanton. 

Orville  C.  Dewey,  of  West 
Virginia,  iron  manufacturer. 

Honorable  Dr.  John  Dewey, 
of  Vermont,  conspicuous  as  a 
doctor  of  both  law  and  medi 
cine,  and  as  a  legislator  in  both 
branches  of  his  State  government. 

Reverend  Dr.  Orville  Dewey,  and  the  Reverend  Dr. 
Chester  Dewey,  both  eminent  and  well-known  Doctors  of 
Divinity. 

Judge  Francis  H.  Dewey,  of 
Massachusetts,  a  jurist  of  marked 
ability. 

Alfred  Timothy  Dewey,  of 
California,  one  of  the  best-known 
men  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

Prof.  James  R.  Dewey,  A.  B., 
A.  M.,  M.  D.,  of  Chicago,  eminent 
scholar  and  teacher. 

Rev.  Sanger  Dewey,  for  more 
than  fifty  years  an  active 
preacher  in  the  M.  E.  Church 

in   northern   New   York.  COURTLAND  A.  DEWEY 


DEWEY'S   ROYAL  ANCESTRY 


473 


Captain  John  W.  Dewey,  a  classmate  of  George  Dewey 
at  the  Norwich  Academy,  and  a  distinguished  officer  in 
the  military  arm  of  the  Government  service. 

Professor   John    Dewey,  of   the   University   of   Chicago. 

Louis  Marinus  Dewey,  of  Massachusetts,  compiler  of 
the  family  history  and  genealogy. 

Many  others  of  the  Dewey  family  have  been  equally 
prominent  in  the  conduct  of  public  affairs  as  those  here 
mentioned. 


V-t^S 7<if^~~^'r^ 

i      <<,«,    1-rw 

[   IL^ 


CHAPTER   XVI 
77/£  BATTLE  IN  I/ERSE  AND  SONG 

SOME  SELECTED  POEMS  ON  GEORGE  DEWEY  AND  THE  VICTORY 
OF  MANILA  BAY  — CONTRIBUTIONS  BY  LIEUTENANT-COM 
MANDER  REES,  MR.  GEORGE  CORONWAY,  COLONEL  ARCH 
IBALD  HOPKINS,  AND  OTHERS 


THE    BATTLE    OF    MANILA   BAY* 

BREAK  of  dawn  Manila  Bay 
A  sheet  of  limpid  water  lay, 
Extending  twenty  miles  away. 

Twenty  miles  from   shore  to  shore, 
As  creeping  on  a  squadron  bore, 
As  squadron  never  moved  before. 

Majestic  in  its  hidden  might, 
It  passed  Corregidor  at  night, 
Inspired  to  battle  for  the  right. 

And  grandly  on  the  Flagship  led, 
Six  ships  —  Olympia  e'er  ahead 
With  battle  flags  at  each  masthead. 

'Written  on  board   the  Flagship   Olympia  after  the  Battle  of  Manila  by  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Corwin  P.  Rees. 
(474) 


THE  BATTLE  IN  VERSE  AND  SONG         '  475 

The  Baltimore  and  Raleigh  true, 
The  Petrel,  Boston,  Concord  too, 
Their  flags  of  glory  proudly  flew. 

As  early  daylight  broke  upon 
The  bay  —  before  the  rise  of  sun  — 
Was  seen  the  flash  of  opening  gun  ! 

Then  every  second  heard  the  roar 
Of  shell  and  shrapnel  bursting  o'er 
Our  brave,  undaunted  Commodore  ! 

"  Hold  our  fire  !  "  he  calmly  said, 
As  from  the  bridge  he  bravely  led 
To  death  or  glory  on  ahead  ! 

And  from  his  lips  or  from  his  hand 

But  one  direction,  one  command, 

"  Follow  the  Flagship  by  the  Land." 

Full  twenty  minutes  slowly  crept 

'  Ere  lightning  from  our  turrets  leapt, 

And  pent-up  hell  no  longer  slept  ! 

The  Spanish  fleet,  a  dozen  strong, 
Was  now  in  range,  and  haughty  wrong 
Was  swept  by  awful  fire  along. 

Explosions  wild  destruction  brought 
Mid  flames  that  mighty  havoc  wrought, 
As  either  side  in  fury  fought. 

So  back  and  forth,  in  angry  might, 

The  stars  and  stripes  waved  on  the  fight, 

Mid  bursting  shells  in  deadly  flight  ! 

The  Spanish  decks  with  dead  were  strewn, 
Their  guns  on  shore  were  silenced  soon, 
Their  flags  were  down  ere  flush  of  noon. 


476  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Their  ships,  their  batteries  on  the  shore 
Were  gone,  to  fight  again  no  more  — 
Their  loss,  a  thousand  men  or  more  ! 

Dawned  on  the  fleet  that  Dewey  led 
A  miracle,  while   Spaniards  bled  ; 
For  on  our  side  was  not  one  dead  ! 

The  Battle  of  Manila  Bay 

From  mind  shall  never  pass  away  — 

Nor  deeds  of  glory  wrought  that  day ; 

For  mid  that  battle's  awful  roar 
The   Spanish  pride,  to  rise  no  more, 
Was  humbled  by  our  Commodore. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  MANILA* 


'r-r^WAS  on  the  first  of  May 

When  Dewey  led  the  way 
Into  Manila  Bay, 
And  faced  the  foe  ; 
Our  hero  was  aware 
Of  all  the  perils  there  — 
But  what  did  Dewey  care, 
When  told  to  go? 

'Tis  now  the  dead  of  night, 
There's  not  a  star  in  sight, 
Our  ships  bear  not  a  light 

On  either  side  ; 
The  waves  roll  gently  by, 
The  breezes  gently  sigh 
A  peaceful  lullaby 

Unto  the  tide. 


*This  poem  was  written  for  "The  Life  of  Admiral   Dewey"  by  Mr.  George  Coronway, 
of  Wilkesbarre.  Pa. 


THE  BATTLE  IN  VERSE  AND  SONG  477 

Each  seaman  holds  his  breath. 
And  all  is  calm  as  death  — 
Save  that  now  travaileth 

The   laboring  screw  ; 
'Tis  God  alone  doth   know 
What  fancies  strange  do  grow, 
What  visions  come  and  go 

Now  'mong  the  crew. 


But,  hark  !   that  loud  report  — 
It  comes  toward   our  port  — 
They're  firing  from  the  fort  — 

They've  seen  our  sparks  ! 
Their  challenge  we  defied, 
And  quickly  we  replied  — 
A  volley  from  our  side 

Soon  stopped  their  barks. 


With  boldness  nigh  divine, 
On  steamed  our  gallant  line  — 
Defying  fort  and  mine  — 

Heroically  ; 

At  last  they  reached  the  bay, 
Our  colors  flying  gay, 
All  ready  for  the  fray  — 

To  win  or  die. 


The  Spaniards'  blood  ran  cold, 
Their  wrath  they  could  not  hold, 
To  see  the  Yankee  bold 

So  early  there  ; 
Ere  rose  the   morning  sun 
The   battle  had  begun, 
When  loud  the  foeman's  gun 

Rang  through  the  air. 


478  LIFE  OF  ADMIEAL  DEWEY 

Then  Dewey,  ever  brave  — 
Our  champion  of  the  wave  — 
The  well-known  signal  gave  : 

"Avenge  the  Maine;" 
Aloud  from  many  a  lung 
The  fiery  signal  rung  — 
While  proud  Olympia  flung 
Death  into  Spain. 


Again  our  vessels  cheered  — 

Majestic  they  appeared, 

As  to  the  front  they  steered, 

With  warlike  sway. 
And,  heedless  of  the  mine 
That  lay  beneath  the  brine, 
Swept  by  the  Spanish  line 

And  Cavite. 


Terrific  was  the  fight, 
Appalling  was  the  sight  — 
Each  side,  with  main  and  might, 

Fought  brave  and  well  ; 
Our  squadron's  mighty  guns, 
Manned  by  our  gallant  sons, 
Belched  forth  their  ready  tons 

Of  shot  and  shell. 


The  flagship  of  the  foe 

Was  shattered  'neath  the  blow, 

Her  captain  was  laid  low; 

Her  fatal  deck, 
Alas  !  was  covered  o'er 

With  dead  men  by  the  score 

She  sank  to  rise  no  more, 

A  mortal  wreck. 


THE  BATTLE  IN  VERSE  AND  SONG  479 

From  larboard  and  from  port, 
We  sent,  with  loud  report, 
A  death  note  to  each  fort 

And  ship  of  Spain  ; 
The  enemy  was  crushed, 
His  every  gun  was  hushed  — 
Our  tars  with  victory  flushed, 

Loud  cheered  again. 


We  never  lost  a  son, 
A  vessel,  or  a  gun  — 
The  fight  was  nobly  won  — 

Long  live  the  brave  ! 
Our  Stars  and  Stripes  to-day 
Are  flying,  proud  and  gay, 
Above  Manila  Bay  — 

Long  may  it  wave  ! 


Hail  Dewey,  bold  and  true, 
Hail  all  his  captains,  too  — 
And  don't  forget  the  crew  — 

Loud  hail  them  all  ! 
Have  pity  for  the  brave, 
Who  sleep  beneath  the  wave, 
Within  their  ocean  grave  — 

God  rest  their  souls. 


Do  Thou,  O  Lord  of  Hosts, 
Guard  us  from  idle  boasts, 

And  fancies  vain  ; 
Soon  may  this  tempest  cease, 
And  may  the  day  of  peace 

Return  again. 


480  LIFE  OF   ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

A   PROPHETIC   SONG* 

FILL  all  your  glasses  full  to-night, 
The  wind  is  off  the  shore  ; 
And  be  it  feast  or  be  it  fight, 
We  pledge  the  Commodore. 

Through  days  of  storm,  through  days  of  calm, 

On  board  Pacific  seas, 
At  anchor  off  the  Isles  of  Palm, 

Or  with  the  Japanese. 

Ashore,  afloat,  on  deck,  below, 
Or  where  our  bulldogs  roar, 

To  back  a  friend,  or  breast  a  foe, 
We  pledge  the  Commodore. 

We  know  our  honor'll  be  unstained. 

Where'er  his  pennant  flies, 
Our  rights  respected  and  maintained, 

Whatever  power  defies. 

And  when  he  takes  the  homeward  tack, 

An  Admiral's  banner  won, 
We'll  hail  the  day  that  brings  him  back, 

And  laud  the  duty.  done. 

Along  the  far  Philippine  coast. 
Where  flew  the  flag  of  Spain, 

Our  Admiral  to-day  can  boast, 
"'Twill  never  fly  again. "f 


*  Commodore  Dewey  was  sent  to  the  Asiatic  station  in  November  1897,  at  his  own 
request.  His  companions  at  the  Metropolitan  Club  in  Washington  gave  him  a  rousing 
send-off  at  a  banquet,  where  this  song  was  sung.  It  was  written  by  Colonel  Archibald 
Hopkins,  clerk  of  the  Court  of  Claims. 

•f-This  last  stanza  was  added  by  Colonel  Hopkins  after  the  Battle  of  Manila. 


THE  BATTLE  IN  VERSE  AND  SONG  481 

THE    MIRACLE   OF    MANILA 

INSCRIBED    TO    ADMIRAL    GEORGE    DEWEY,    BY    T.    S.    V. 

FAR,  far  away,  Manila  Bay 
Lay  dreaming  in  the  evening  sun  ; 
No  shattered  deck,  no  ruin,  no  wreck, 

To  mark  where  treachery's  deed  was  done. 

The  isles  were  still  ;    they  feared  no  ill, 

And  lower  sank  the  dying  day, 
While  from  the  fort,  dark  on  the  port, 

The  great  guns  frowned  their  solemn  sway. 

And   'neath  their  lips  proud  Spain's  fair  ships 

Secure  at  anchor  idly  swung  ; 
And  every  hulk  a  double  bulk 

Of  shadow  o'er  the  water  flung. 

And  slower,  slow,  and  deeper,  low, 

The  rim  of  day  sank  in  the  sea ; 
Cavite  grim  frowned  e'en  on  him 

And  proudly  frowned  Spain's  chivalry. 

Then  in  the  sky,  soft  every  eye, 

Of  every  star  peeped  on  that  bay ; 
And,  drooping,  saw  Spain's  colors  draw 

Around  the  staff  in  idle  way. 

And  now  the  noon  of  night ;    the  moon 

Swings  high  above   Manila  Bay  — 
And  April's  fleet  retreating  feet 

Turn  back  to  kiss  the  brow  of  May. 

One  long,  last  kiss,  a  vanquished  bliss, 

The  maid  May-crowned  with  flowers  stood  ; 

Her  form  so  slight  the  cloak  of  night 

Enwrapped,  and  on  her  head  the  hood. 

D  — 31 


482  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

And  as  she  gazed  far  o'er  the  ways 
That  lead  into  the  salty  deep, 

Six  ships  she  saw  close,  closer  draw, 
Six  shadow  ships  still  closer  creep. 

Spain's  sentries  pace  accustomed  place, 
And  gaze  upon  the  moonlit  sea, 

But  golden  haze  and  distance's  maze 
Have  wrapped  the  six  in  mystery. 

But  hush  !    but  hark  !    one   little  spark 
Looked  up  and  saw  a  star  to  love, 

And,  leaping,  sprung  to  where  it  hung 
High  in  the  jeweled  sky  above. 

Red,  red  it  burned  ;    Spain's  watch  discerned 
The  amorous  spark  burn  through  the  night ; 

Corregidor  gave  out  a  roar 

And  tremulous  shook  each  star  in  fright. 

But  unconcerned,  'e'en  though  discerned, 
The  folack  hulks  move  beneath  the  stars, 

And  high  in  air  the  May  moon  fair 
Sees  flying  there  our  stars  and  bars. 

And  stately,  slow,  they  onward  go, 

These  dauntless  ships  unheeding  aught 

Before,  about,  the  deep  mines  shout, 

Till  all  the  air  with  waves  is  fraught. 

What  care  these  braves  for  mines  or  waves  ? 

They  scorn  the  hidden  traps  of  Spain, 
For  yonder  flies  in  Spanish  skies 

A  rag  they  will  not  let  remain. 

In  thunderous  phrase  Spain's  cannon  brays 
Where  stands  Cavite  dark  and  grim, 

While  far  away  they  softly  play 

The  Sabbath  bells  their  Sabbath  hymn. 


THE  BATTLE  IN  VERSE  AND  SONG  483 

Though  round  them  fall  hot  shell  and  ball, 
Though  round  the  moving  ships  so  gay, 

Still  unconcerned  they  never  turned, 

The  bells  were  calling  —  they  would  pray. 

Sweet  Sabbath  bells  with  sink  and  swells, 
'Tis  freedom's  banner  that  you  greet ! 

The  cannons  roar,  their  curses  pour 

Sweet  Sabbath  bells  on  freedom's  fleet. 

And  now  the  May  has  cast  away 

The  hood  and  mantle  of  the  night, 
And  morning's  grace  pours  on  her  face 

A  rosy  hue,  a  golden  light. 

She  saw  the  stars  and  beaming  bars 

High  waving  as  they  onward  came, 
Saw  freedom's  men  that  fearless  then 

Stood  waiting  for  the  battle  game. 

Then  one  brave  throat  gave  out  a  note 

"  Remember,  boys,  the  Maine  !  "  the  cry  ; 

And  o'er  the  waves  five  hundred  braves 
•'Remember,  boys,  the  Maine!''1  reply. 

Then  from  the  ships  of  Spain  the  lips 
Of  brazen  guns  boomed  answer  back, 

And  shot  and  shell  with  hissing  yell 
Fell  splashing  in  their  wavy  track. 

And  then  they  wheeled  ;   their  nerves  were  steeled, 
Those  dauntless  hearts,  those  freemen  brave, 

While  o'er  them  high  the  signals  fly 

That  bid  them  do  the  thing  they  crave. 

Then,  then  they  make  their  guns  that  spoke 

In  roaring  bursts  of  shot  and  shell  ; 
An  iron  hail  beat  deck  and  mail 

Till  battered  Spain  all  broken  fell. 


484  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

Down,  down  it  poured  and  louder  roared 
Each  leaping  gun  on  every  deck, 

Through  clouds  of  smoke,  red  splashes  broke, 
Belched  from  each  big  gun's  brazen  beck. 

E'en  as  a  group  of  chargers  stoop 
To  nibble  grass  and  break  away, 

Then  wheeling  round,  back  to  the  ground 
Return  to  feast  and  play  and  neigh. 

So  up  and  down,  and  back  and  round 
Our  bonnie  ships  moved  in  the  fray ; 

Each  ball  they  sent  on  ruin  bent, 

The  hopes  of  Spain  made  lower  lay. 

Six  times  they  passed,  six  ships  enmassed, 

Poured  shot  and  shell  on  Spain's  proud  fleet, 

Till  one  by  one  was  hushed  each  gun 
And  fell  each  gunner  from  his  feet. 

The  decks  a  flood  of  human  blood, 

The  blood  the  Spaniards  gave  so  well  ; 

Still  loud  they  roared  our  guns  and  poured 
A  hurricane  of  shot  and  shell. 

Then  ruin  came  with  fire  and  flame, 
Disaster,  death,  destruction,  all. 

The  bloated  pride  of  Castile  died, 

Pierced  by  a  freeman's  cannon  ball  ! 

Down,  down,  they  sank,  their  ships,  and  drank 
The  bloody  waters  of  the  bay, 

Till  not  a  ship  was  left  to  dip 
Its  colors  to  our  flag  that  day. 

Oh,  Spain !   Oh,  Spain  !   where  now  remain 

Your  vaunted  strength,  your  boasted  power  ? 

Not  e'en  a  boat  is  left  afloat 

To  bear  your  banner  in  this  hour. 


THE  BATTLE  IN  VERSE  AND  SONG  485 

And  look  !    behold  !    Cavite  bold 

Flings  out  the  white  flag  to  the  breeze  . 

While  bright  and  fair  and  high  in  air 

The  Stars  and  Stripes  now  float  at  ease. 

Ah,  me  !    Ah,  me !   deep  in  the  sea, 

How  many  broken  forms  now   lie  ! 
Thy  sailors,  Spain,  beneath  the  main, 

Their  curses  on  thee  ever  cry. 

Our  muster  roll  shows  every  soul 

Still  hale  and  hearty  on  the  deck ; 
Not  one,  not  one,  sunk  by  a  gun, 

And  not  a  ship  reduced  to  wreck  ! 

I  did  not  think  proud  Spain  should  drink 

So  deep  the  dregs  of  bitterness, 
But  then  —  ah,  then  !  —  both  God  and  men 

Recalled  the  Maine  and  our  distress. 

Thrice  honored  be  that  hero,  he 

Who  sailed  the   night  so  daring  free, 

Who  struck  the  blow,  struck   Spain  so  low, 
Brave   Dewey  lives  immortally  ! 

On  Clio's  page  recording  sage 

Has  never  penned  a  deed  so  grand  ; 

The  deed  was  thine  ;    the  theme  is  mine  ; 
The  flag  is  safe  in  Dewey's  hand. 


Scotland         Irelaxvd          $tue.detu         (Bermamj  Bran.ce. 


CHAPTER   XVII 
ANECDOTES  OF  THE  ADMIRAL 

CLAIMED  BY  SEVEN  NATIONS  — HE  OBEYED  ORDERS-"  SMARTER 
THAN  CHAIN  LIGHTNING "—  FALSEHOOD  THE  UNPARDON 
ABLE  SIN 

IANY  are  the  anecdotes  which  have 
been  told  of  Admiral  George 
Dewey  since  the  battle  in  the 
harbor  of  Cavite.  Some  of  them 
are  instructive,  while  more  may 
be  said  to  be  amusing,  but  all 
are  interesting.  We  give  space 
to  a  few  of  general  interest. 

The    efforts    to    trace  George 
Dewey's  ancestry  to  nearly  every 

nation   on  earth  have  been  both  amusing  and  ridiculous. 

The  following  symposium  as  to  the  Admiral's  nationality 

appeared  soon   after  the    Battle   of   Manila  in   a   Chicago 

newspaper :  — 

AS    A    SCOTCHMAN 

Far  be  it  from  me  as  a  Scotchman  to  embroil  myself 
in   the    controversy    as    to   Admiral    Dewey's    nationality. 

(486) 


ANECDOTES  OF  THE  ADMIRAL  487 

Indeed,  it  would  be  foolish  of  me  to  go  to  any  such  lengths, 
knowing  full  well  as  I  do  that  he  is  of  the  purest  Scotch 
blood,  such  as  was  Paul  Jones.  The  Dewars  and  Deweys, 
though  the  latter  branch  never  had  anything  to  do  with 
the  distillery  business,  are  of  the  same  family.  Dewey's 
forefathers  came  to  wander  into  Vermont  after  the  Battle 
of  Quebec,  in  which  our  Scotch  troops  lost  their  heads 
when  the  British  officers  stopped  the  bagpipes  from  play 
ing  the  pibrochs  all  \vere  accustomed  to  hear  in  high 
land  warfare.  I  think  you  will  find  on  investigation 
that  Dewey  had  a  set  of  bagpipes  playing  close  by 
him  when  he  whipped  the  Spaniards. 

G.  R.  MACAULEY. 

IRISHMAN 

It  is  shameful  the  way  the  foreign  countries  are  try 
ing  to  rob  Ireland  of  the  glory  and  fame  of  Dewey.  As 
the  Admiral  does  not  deny  that  he  is  of  Irish  blood,  it 
ought  to  be  proof  enough  that  his  forefathers  did  not 
steal  their  good  old  Irish  name.  Indeed,  the  Deweys  were 
so  valiant  and  numerous  at  one  time  during  the  defense 
of  King  James's  crown  that  they  almost  constituted 
a  clan,  and  they  were  all  made  of  the  sternest  fighting 
stuff. 

A  great  many  of  the  earlier  Irish  immigrants  of  the 
century  drifted  into  Vermont,  and  the  branch  of  the  Dew 
eys  whence  the  Admiral  springs  was  among  them.  Very 
early  in  life  he  expressed  a  preference  for  the  naval 
calling  rather  than  politics,  and  that  is  why  he 
became  a  hero  instead  of  a  statesman,  the  fate  of  so 
many  of  us.  M.  S.  O'NEIL. 


488  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

SWEDE 

We  of  Swedish  origin,  who  take  a  natural  pride  in  the 
great  deeds  of  our  countrymen,  have  investigated  the  sub 
ject  of  Admiral  Dewey's  birth  since  he  destroyed  the 
Spanish  fleet  at  Manila,  and  have  proved  beyond  a  doubt 
that  he  is  descended  in  direct  line  from  the  Vikings.  His 
ancestors  were  thoroughbred  Swedish  sea  fighters,  and 
once  upon  a  time  had  their  home  in  Smoland,  a  province 
of  Sweden.  As  near  as  we  can  find  out,  Dewey's  imme 
diate  ancestors  came  to  the  United  States  in  the  present 
century  and  had  the  legislature  of  Vermont  change  their 
name,  for  convenience,  from  Dewjansen  to  Dewey.  They 
left  the  seafaring  business  and  took  up  the  plow,  but  even 
the  life  and  training  of  the  farm  could  not  suppress  the 
Swedish  genius  for  great  deeds  on  the  sea,  which  the 
youngest  of  the  celebrated  Dewjansens  inherited. 

C.    M.    BlNJENSTERN. 
GERMAN 

May  I  trouble  you  to  print  some  news  I  find  before 
me  in  the  Darmstadter  Tagblatt  of  recent  date  ?  It  states 
that  Admiral  Dewey,  the  conqueror  of  Manila,  is  German, 
and,  like  the  distinguished  Henry  Villard,  still  has  rela 
tives  on  the  Rhine.  Some  of  his  relatives  on  the  mater 
nal  side,  the  Von  Geigers,  live  in  poor  circumstances  in 
the  suburbs  of  Darmstadt,  and  an  aged  cousin  on  his 
father's  side  is  a  poor  country  gate-keeper  on  the  Ba- 
dische  railroad.  No  doubt  can  exist  as  to  the  Deweys' 
descent,  from  the  fact  that  his  great-great-grandfather 
was  one  of  the  Hessian  mercenaries  employed  by  King 
George  to  suppress  the  American  Revolution.  The  family 


ANECDOTES   OF   THE   ADMIRAL  489 

name,  which  is  still  preserved  by  Dewey's  remaining 
cousin,  though  remote,  is  spelled  Duwig,  and  is  by  no 
means  uncommon  in  Hesse-Darmstadt. 

H.  VON  EPPSTEIN. 

FRENCHMAN 

I  want  to  say  a  word  about  this  dispute  as  to  what 
nation  may  claim  the  honor  of  having  given  to  history 
the  grand  and  illustrious  Admiral  Dewey.  Do  not  be  sur 
prised  when  I  inform  you  that  he  is  French.  His  family 
name  is  Douett,  pronounced  Doo-ay,  and  what  would  be 
more  natural  than  this  change  to  Doo-ey,  as  you  Ameri 
cans  pronounce  it  now  ?  Admiral  Douett's  great-great 
grandfather  was  an  officer  under  Lafayette  and  conducted 
himself  bravely  throughout  the  war  for  American  inde 
pendence,  marrying  afterward  in  New  York  a  French  gov 
erness  of  noble  blood  who  fled  from  the  Revolution. 
When  they  settled  in  Vermont  they  really  thought  they 
were  taking  up  their  home  in  French  Canada,  so  it  is  by 
the  merest  chance,  and  not  from  choice,  that  Admiral 
Douett  is  an  officer  in  the  American  Navy,  instead  of 

that  of  his  native  land.  J.  L.  MARCY. 

ITALIAN 

As  it  is  about  time  that  the  Italians  should  claim  the 
honor  which  they  know  to  be  theirs  in  the  nationality  of 
Admiral  Dewey,  I  have  ventured  to  bring  the  interesting 
fact  to  your  attention  that  he  is  in  blood  a  true  son  of 
the  Adriatic.  We  find,  after  patient  research,  that  his 
great-great-grandfather  was  Raphael  Angelo  Di  Wi.  the  first 
enterprising  Italian  musician  to  brave  the  horrors  of  the 
Atlantic  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  the  movable  organ 


490  LIFE   OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

to  this  country.     Raphael  Di  Wi  was  a  man  of  fine  cour 
age  and  intrepid  ancestry. 

No  doubt  it  is  the  character  of  the  old  fisherman  fore 
father  we  find  reflected  in  the  Admiral.  Shortly  after 
Raphael  Di  Wi  had  arrived  in  Boston  he  met  a  beautiful 
young  countrywoman  who  was  engaged  in  selling  "objets 
d'art"  done  in  chalk,  and  they  were  married,  thus  found 
ing  the  Di  Wi  stock.  E.  G.  CANDIANI. 

RUSSIAN 

It  is  time  that  the  truth  should  be  told  about  the  gen 
ealogy  of  Admiral  Dewey.  He  is  not  of  Irish,  or  Scotch, 
or  Scandinavian  descent,  as  has  been  asserted  so  often. 
He  is  in  reality  of  Russian  blood  and  comes  from  a  dis 
tinguished  line  of  sea  fighters  who  antedated  Peter  the 
Great  in  water  warfare.  One  of  Dewey's  ancestors,  who 
spelled  his  name  Dhjuhjii,  was  attached  to  the  staff  of 
the  American  admiral,  Paul  Jones,  while  the  latter  served 
Catharine  of  Russia,  and,  in  their  intercourse,  came  to 
have  such  a  high  regard  for  the  United  States  that  he 
retired  in  time  from  the  Russian  navy  and  settled  down 
as  a  farmer  in  Vermont.  Thus  did  Russia  confer  this 
great  man  upon  the  United  States. 

P.  I.  OBLEVITSKY. 

The  San  Francisco  Examiner  is  authority  for  the  fol 
lowing  amusing  anecdote  of  the  time  when  Admiral 
Dewey  was  executive  officer  of  the  Colorado.  W.  W. 
Stone,  who  was  ship's  writer  on  board  the  cruiser  Colo 
rado  when  Dewey  and  Watson  were  Keutenant-commanders 
on  that  vessel,  can  tell  many  stories  about  those  two 
celebrities.  Admiral  Goldsborough  was  in  command  of 


ANECDOTES  OF   THE   ADMIRAL  491 

the  Colorado.  His  valet,  John,  who  at  one  time  was 
President  Lincoln's  servant,  was  a  witty  but  bungling 
Irishman.  Stone's  best  story  centres  around  this  quaint 
character. 

One  morning  Admiral  Goldsborough  sent  down  word 
to  John  that  he  wanted  his  glass,  meaning,  of  course, 
his  spyglass.  John,  as  usual,  however,  misunderstood,  and 
came  tramping  up  the  bridge  with  a  goblet  in  his  hand. 

"John,  you're  the  devil's  own  valet,"  growled  the  ad 
miral  when  he  saw  him  coming. 

"Faith,  sor,  I  didn't  think  I'd  come  to  that  when  I 
tuk  service  wid  ye,  sor." 

"  Throw  that  blamed  goblet  overboard  and  go  and 
get  my  spyglass,  as  I  told  you,  you  infernal  idiot!" 

"Yes,  sor,"  said  John,  calmly  tossing  the  glass  over 
the  side,  and  in  doing  so  narrowly  escaped  dashing  it 
upon  the  upturned  face  of  our  executive  officer,  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  George  Dewey.  Mr.  Dewey  was  on  a 
tour  of  inspection,  circling  the  frigate  in  one  of  the 
cutters.  The  Colorado  had  just  arrived  from  Trieste.  The 
passage  down  the  Adriatic  Sea  had  been  a  stormy  one, 
and  the  painstaking  executive  officer  of  the  vessel  wanted 
to  see  for  himself  how  the  old  ship  looked  after  her  battle 
with  the  w7aves. 

It  was  a  lovely  spring  Sunday  morning.  We  had 
dropped  anchor  in  the  beautiful  bay  of  Naples,  and  I 
had  crept  up  into  the  mizzentop  to  drink  in  with  boyish 
zest  the  delights  of  our  glorious  surroundings.  Off  our 
beams  lay  Ischia  and  Capri,  standing  like  stern  Roman 
sentinels  on  guard,  at  the  horns  of  the  bay.  Ahead  lay 


492  LIFE  OF   ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

the  Campanile.  From  its  centre  rises  old  Vesuvius,  from 
whose  grim  apex  I  could  see  floating  upward  a  hazy 
wreath,  significant  of  the  unrest  beneath.  I  watched  the 
old  admiral  with  a  great  deal  of  interest.  Had  I  been 
a  kodak  fiend  I  should  then  and  there  have  forfeited 
my  appointment  by  taking  a  snap  shot  at  the  irate  offi 
cer  as  he  glared  at  the  sleek,  unconcerned  menial. 

"Go  below,  you  blundering  Irishman,  before  I  have 
you  tossed  over  after  the  glass."  The  man  disappeared 
with  just  the  suspicion  of  a  smirk  on  his  innocent  look 
ing  face. 

"Mr.  Dewey  would  like  to  have  you  find  out,  sir, 
who  is  heaving  crockery  over  the  side  of  the  ship,  sir." 
This  came  from  one  of  the  crew  of  the  cutter.  He 
had  come  up  with  the  order  and  spoke  to  Lieutenant- 
Commander  John  Crittenden  Watson,  at  the  time  officer 
of  the  deck.  The  admiral  overheard  the  message  of  the 
angry  executive  and  laughed  quietly. 

"Tell  Mr.  Dewey  that  it  was  the  admiral,  my  man," 
said  he  soberly;  then,  turning  to  Mr.  Watson  he  re 
marked,  "He  can't  very  well  put  the  admiral  in  the 
brig,  though  I  may  deserve  it." 

"  He  may  look  around  for  a  substitute,  Admiral,"  an 
swered  Mr.  Watson,  smiling. 

"Oh,  no;  Dewey  has  too  keen  a  sense  of  justice  for 
that.  Besides,  I  remember  his  saying  once  that  he  had 
no  use  for  substitutes." 

A  few  moments  after  this  Mr.  Dewey  himself  came 
over  the  starboard  gangway,  saluting  the  admiral  with 
rather  a  haughty  air.  You  see,  a  10-pounder  may  spin 


ANECDOTES   OF   THE   ADMIRAL  493 

merrily  past  a  fellow's  head  aboard  a  man-of-war  and  serve 
merely  as  a  hook  on  which  to  hang  the  old-time  jest 
about  a  "  miss  being  as  good  as  a  mile,"  but  when  a  plain 
matter-of-fact,  plebeian  tumbler  shoots  past  you,  contrary 
to  the  articles  of  war  and  in  direct  violation  of  estab 
lished  naval  etiquette,  the  circumstance  that  you  have  es 
caped  mutilation  is  only  an  excrescence  alongside  of  the 
glaring  fact  that  your  dignity  has  been  violently  assaulted. 

The  admiral  looked  down  and  took  in  the  situation. 
Descending  to  the  quarter-deck,  he  approached  Dewey  and 
said  with  a  friendly  air,  ''I  say,  Dewey,  did  you  ever  read 
'  Handy  Andy  '  ? " 

"Yes,  sir,"  rather  shortly. 

"Well,  now,  I  must  have  his  cousin  aboard."  And  the 
admiral  related  the  glass  incident.  The  two  laughed  over 
the  blunder,  Mr.  Dewey  having  recovered  his  usual  good 
nature  by  this  time. 

"  You  see,  Dewey,  I  have  a  sort  of  interest  in  the  fel 
low.  The  secretary  recommended  him  to  me  as  a  good, 
faithful  serving-man.  He  had  been  attached  to  Mr. 
Lincoln  as  his  personal  attendant,  and  I  took  the  scamp 
partly  on  that  account.  Ah,  here  he  comes  at  last  with 
my  glass  !  John,  did  Mr.  Lincoln  ever  score  you  for  your 
awkwardness  ? " 

"  No,  sor,  he  nivir  did.  Many's  the  time  he  tould  me 
that  it  wor  a  mercy  that  we  were  tegither,  because,  said 
he,  his  mind  wor  taken  off  affairs  of  state  by  thinkin' 
did  he  wurruk  harder  tellin'  me  how  to  do  things  than  if 
he  wint  and  did  them  himself.' 

"Doubtless,  doubtless,"  said  the  admiral,  laughing. 


494  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

"I  want  you  to  remember,  John,"  said  Mr.  Dewey 
severely,  "  that  it  is  strictly  against  the  rules  of  this  ship 
to  throw  anything  over  the  sides.  You  came  very  near 
striking  me  in  the  head  with  your  glass-tossing." 

"  That  wor  a  pity,  sor." 

"  A  pity ! "  exclaimed  Dewey  savagely.  "  By  Jim,  I'd 
have  come  up  and  had  you  strung  up  at  the  mainyard 
arm  like  a  dog." 

"  No,  sor,  axin'  yer  pardon,  I   hope   not." 

"  What's  that  ? "  roared  the  future  admiral  angrily. 

"Throth,  sor,  d'ye  mind  the  mornin'  tellin'  me  that  ye 
wor  to  do  the  thinkin'  and  I  wor  to  obey  orders,  even  if 
I  bruk  owners  ? " 

The  two  laughed  heartily  at  this  hit,  and  John  went 
below  with  flying  colors. 

"Dewey  was  always  a  good  man  to  the  men  forward,'' 
says  an  officer  in  the  Navy  who  has  been  associated  with 
the  Admiral  on  several  of  his  cruises.  As  a  commanding 
officer  he  was  intolerant  only  of  a  liar.  This  sin  he  could 
not  overlook.  For  the  liberty  breakers,  the  fo'c's'le 
scrappers,  over-night  drunks,  and  other  petty  offenders 
aboard  the  ships  under  his  command,  he  has  always  had 
an  exceedingly  unobserving  eye,  and  he  has  been  noted  for 
some  difficulty  he  has  had  with  his  hearing  apparatus 
when  such  offenders  have  been  reported  to  him  in  the 
course  of  duty. 

"  Give  him  a  show.  He'll  be  good  now,  I  guess,"  is  a 
remark  Dewey  used  often  to  make,  when,  as  a  ship  com 
mander,  he  had  to  receive  the  necessary  reports  of  deck 
officers  about  the  little  breaks  made  by  men  forward. 


ANECDOTES  OF  THE  ADMIRAL  495 

But  he  was  a  terror  in  his  handling  of  a  liar.  A  blue 
jacket  who  could  stand  at  the  mast  before  him  and  try 
to  give  him  a  cock-and-bull  story  instead  of  coming  right 
out  and  owning  up  to  his  delinquency  was  in  for  trouble, 
and  a  whole  heap  of  it.  As  a  commander  he  liked  and 
demanded  candor.  No  other  game  went  with  him." 

"  Dewey  is  a  man  with  big,  piercing  eyes,"  says  a  mes 
senger  in  the  Navy  Department,  who  once  made  a  cruise 
with  the  Admiral.  "He  is  what  I  would  call  a  little 
fellow  as  to  height,  but  he  surely  looked  bigger'n  a  Dutch 
frigate  when  he  stood  on  his  side  of  the  mast  and  you 
were  up  in  front  of  him.  But  he  was  a  tender-hearted 
man  on  the  cruise  when  he  and  I  were  shipmates.  He 
would  try  not  to  see  or  hear  things  that  he  did  not  want 
to  see  or  hear.  None  of  us  knew  him  '  up  forward/  I  mean 
as  a  commander.  Some  of  us  had  been  shipmates  with 
him  when  he  was  a  deck  officer,  and  had  never  got  the 
worst  of  it  at  his  hands.  But  we  weren't  sure  how  he'd 
stack  up  as  a  skipper.  We  weren't  long  in  finding  out. 
We  had  to  sailorize  all  right,  but  there  wasn't  much 
brigging  with  Dewey.  He  didn't  like  to  see  a  man  in 
double  irons  on  his  tours  of  inspection.  W^e  hadn't  been 
to  sea  with  him  very  long  before  we  got  next  to  how  he 
despised  a  liar.  One  of  the  petty  officers  went  ashore  at 
Gibraltar,  got  mixed  up  with  the  soldiers  in  the  canteens 
up  on  the  hill,  and  came  off  to  the  ship  paralyzed.  He 
went  before  Dewey  at  the  mast  next  morning,  and  gave 
him  the  '  two-beers-and-sunstruck '  yarn. 

"'You're  lying,  my  man,'  said  Dewey.  'You  were  very 
drunk.  I  myself  heard  you  aft  in  my  cabin,  I  will  not 


496  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

have  my  men  lie  to  me.  I  don't  expect  to  find  total 
abstinence  in  a  man-of-war  crew;  but  I  do  expect  them 
to  tell  me  the  truth,  and  I  am  going  to  have  them  tell 
me  the  truth.  Had  you  told  me  candidly  that  you  took 
a  drop  too  much  on  your  liberty,  you  would  have  been 
forward  by  this  time,  for  you  at  least  returned  to  the 
ship.  For  lying,  you  get  ten  days  in  irons.  Let  me  have 
the  truth  hereafter.  I  am  told  you  are  a  good  seaman. 
A  good  seaman  has  no  business  lying.' 

4' After  that  there  were  few  men  aboard  who  didn't 
throw  themselves  on  the  mercy  of  the  court  when  they 
waltzed  up  to  the  stick  before  Dewey,  and  none  of  us 
ever  lost  anything  by  it.  He'd  have  to  punish  us  in 
accordance  with  regulations,  but  he  had  a  great  way  of 
ordering  the  release  of  men  he  had  to  sentence  to  the 
brig  before  their  sentences  were  half  worked  out. 

"  Dewey  was  the  best  liberty-granting  skipper  I  was 
ever  shipmate  with.  He  hated  to  keep  quarantined  men 
aboard  when  the  good-conduct  men  were  nocking  off  to 
the  beach.  One  fine  Christmas  day  in  Genoa  harbor  all 
the  men  entitled  to  shore  liberty  lined  up  at  ten  o'clock 
in  the  morning  to  answer  muster  before  taking  the  run 
ning  boats  for  the  shore.  There  were  about  forty  of  us, 
myself  among  the  number,  who  were  quarantined  aboard 
for  having  raised  Cain  ashore,  in  Nice,  a  few  weeks  before. 
Our  quarantine  was  for  three  months,  and  it  was  not 
half  run  out  on  this  Christmas  day.  Dewey  stood  at 
the  break  of  the  poop,  with  his  hands  on  his  hips,  watch 
ing  the  liberty  party  line  up.  We  fellows  that  couldn't 
go,  were  standing  around  the  gangway,  smoking  our  pipes. 


ANECDOTES   OF   THE   ADMIRAL  497 

and  looking  pretty  down  in  the  mouth,  I  guess.  The  big 
liberty  party  —  there  were  a  couple  hundred  of  men  in 
the  batch — finally  got  away,  and  the  ship  was  practically 
deserted,  except  for  us  quarantined  fellows.  Dewey 
watched  us  for  a  while  out  of  the  tail  of  his  eye.  We 
were  leaning  over  the  side,  watching  the  receding  run 
ning  boats  with  the  big  liberty  party.  Dewey  went  up 
on  the  poop,  and  walked  up  and  down,  chewing  his 
mustache,  and  every  once  in  a  while  shooting  a  look  at 
us  men  up  forward.  Finally,  he  walked  down  the  poop 
ladder,  and  straight  forward  to  where  we  were  grouped. 

" l  You  boys,  hop  into  your  mustering  clothes  and  go 
on  off  to  the  beach.  I'll  let  you  have  a  couple  of  the 
running  boats  when  they  return.  Come  back  with  the 
other  men  when  you  get  ready.  Don't  raise  any  more 
trouble  ashore  than  you  can  help.' 

"There  wasn't  a  man  in  the  gang  of  us  that  didn't 
want  to  hug  little  Dewey  for  that,  and  you  can  gamble 
that  we  gave  him  a  'cheer  ship'  that  rang  around  the 
harbor  of  Genoa.  We  all  got  marked  in  the  log  as 
'clean  and  sober.'  too,  when  we  got  back  to  the  ship, 
for  we  weren't  going  to  do  any  cutting  up  on  Dewey 
after  the  way  he  treated  us." 

Every  one  of  Admiral  Dewey's  associates  in  the  Navy, 
whether  officers  or  men,  have  interesting  stories  to  tell 
of  him.  Two  of  these,  who  were  with  Dewey  on  the 
steam  frigate  Colorado,  one  as  an  officer,  the  other  as 
a  seaman,  were  John  L.  Veimard  and  Charles  E.  Rand, 
both  of  Portsmouth.  Veimard  declares  that  "Dewey  was 
'smarter  than  chain  'lightning,'  quick,  passionate,  and 

D  —  32 


498  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

always  demanded  the  most  perfect  discipline  of  his  men. 
Always  kind-hearted,  he  was  respected  alike  by  his  su 
perior  officers  and  the  men  under  him." 

But  Rand  is  even  more  enthusiastic  in  his  praise  of 
the  ability  and  courage  of  the  Admiral.  "I  remember 
once,  when  I  was  with  Dewey  on  the  flagship  Colorado" 
said  he,  in  speaking  of  the  hero  of  Manila  soon  after  the 
battle;  "he  was  then  lieutenant-commander  and  execu 
tive  officer.  Once,  during  a  terrific  gale,  when  we  were 
off  the  Bay  of  Biscay  —  oftentimes  a  nasty  place,  too,— 
the  command  was  given  to  save  the  ship.  The  old  Colo 
rado  could  not  move  faster  than  eight  knots  an  hour, 
and  we  were  on  a  lee  shore.  I  tell  you  it  looked  bad 
for  us. 

"At  the  height  of  the  storm,  the  admiral  himself  took 
the  bridge,  relieving  Dewey,  and  an  order  was  given  to 
set  sails  to  help  us  out  to  sea.  We  fellows  had  to  hustle 
into  the  rigging,  and  just  to  encourage  us  Dewey  him 
self  mounted  the  ladder,  and  in  less  time  than  I  can  tell 
it  was  on  the  yard  unfurling  sail.  It  was  an  exciting 
scene  and  a  dangerous  situation,  but  in  a  short  time  we 
were  clear  of  the  coast  and  safe  from  wreck  on  one  of 
the  rockiest  shores  I  know  of." 

As  illustrating  the  remarkable  perceptibility  of  Admiral 
Dewey,  it  is  said  that,  at  one  time  during  the  Civil  War, 
during  an  engagement  with  the  enemy,  Dewey  and 
another  officer  were  standing  side  by  side  watching  the 
battle.  Seeing  one  of  the  enemy's  guns  being  trained 
upon  the  spot  where  they  stood,  the  future  Admiral 
turned  and  said:  "The  shot  from  that  gun  will  strike 


ANECDOTES   OF   THE   ADMIRAL  499 

right  here.  There  is  no  use  in  both  of  us  being  killed,  so 
you  step  aside."  The  shot  fell  short,  but  directly  in  front 
of  where  they  stood. 

On  another  occasion  when  Dewey  noted  the  position 
of  one  of  the  enemy's  guns,  he  remarked  to  a  comrade : 
"That  shot  will  take  off  our  bowsprit."  And  it  did. 

Admiral  Dewey  wore  a  "rabbit's  foot"  on  his  watch 
chain  for  "good  luck"  at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay. 
Some  months  afterwards  he  sent  it  to  a  friend  in  New 
Jersey.  It  was  exhibited,  and  as  a  result  hundreds  were 
made  and  sold  to  be  worn  as  charms. 

The  following  touching  story  concerning  Admiral 
Dewey  is  also  told.  Just  before  the  Battle  of  Manila, 
when  the  order  was  given  to  strip  for  action,  the  smallest 
powder-boy  on  the  flagship  dropped  his  coat  overboard. 
He  asked  permission  to  jump  after  it,  but  was  refused. 

He  went  to  the  other  side  of  the  ship,  dropped  over 
board,  recovered  his  coat,  and  was  promptly  arrested  for 
disobedience. 

After  the  battle  he  was  tried  and  found  guilty.  When 
the  sentence  was  submitted  to  Commodore  Dewey  for  his 
approval,  he  became  interested  in  the  case,  as  he  could 
not  understand  why  the  boy  should  risk  his  life  for  a 
coat  just  before  the  battle.  He  had  the  boy  brought  to 
him.  He  spoke  kindly  to  the  youngster,  who  broke  down 
and  told  the  Commodore  that  the  coat  contained  his 
mother's  picture,  which  he  had  just  kissed,  and  he  could 
not  bear  to  see  it  lost. 

Dewey's  eyes  filled  with  tears,  he  fairly  embraced  the 
boy  and  ordered  him  to  be  released,  saying : 


500  LIFE  OF   ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

"Boys  who  love  their  mothers  enough  to  risk  their  lives 
for  her  picture  cannot  be  kept  in  irons  on  this  fleet." 

The  Admiral  on  shore  has  ever  been  a  man  of  clubs 
and  society.  Always  quiet  and  gentlemanly,  and  not 
obtrusively  conversational,  but  ever  ready  to  talk  and 
to  be  talked  to.  Perhaps  he  was  readier  to  be  talked  to 
than  to  talk,  for  he  has  a  mind  of  great  activity  and 
tense  curiosity.  While  in  Washington  much  of  his 
leisure  time  was  spent  at  the  Metropolitan  Club,  where  he 
became  associated  in  a  social  way  with  Mr.  H.  L.  Nelson. 
Mr.  Nelson  pays  the  Admiral  this  friendly  tribute :  - 

"  He  loves  to  know  what  men  are  doing  and  accomplishing  in  the 
world,  and  on  the  whole  I  should  say  he  had  a  '  Yankee '  mind  —  a 
mind  of  acquisitiveness  as  well  as  inquisitiveness.  I  do  not  use  the 
word  inquisitiveness  to  mean  impertinent  curiosity,  but  to  mean  a  de 
sire  for  acquaintance  with  matters  of  importance.  Generally  when  on 
shore  duty  at  Washington,  the  Admiral  lived  at  the  club,  and  was 
sometimes  a  member  of  its  house  committee.  Of  one  thing  the  mem 
bers  of  the  club  will  always  have  a  grateful  recollection,  and  that  is 
the  improvement  of  the  cuisine  under  the  direction  of  Admiral  Dewey. 
When  he  had  anything  to  do  he  did  it  with  all  his  skill  and  ability. 
When  he  turned  his  mind  to  the  kitchen  of  the  club,  the  dining-room 
became  pleasanter  and  more  attractive. 

"  Professionally  he  was  always  highly  esteemed  by  his  brother  offi 
cers,  but  that  is  a  side  of  him  concerning  which  I  am  not  competent 
to  speak.  As  a  gentleman  in  society,  he  was  immensely  popular. 
People  loved  to  have  him  for  a  dinner  companion,  and  men  in  the 
club  loved  to  chat  with  him.  He  had  a  great  zest  for  everything  he 
engaged  in,  and  I  presume  he  enjoyed  the  fight  at  Manila  even 
better  than  his  chop  or  steak  at  the  club/' 

The  last  words  of  this  friendly  testimony  give  the  key 
to  George  Dewey's  character.  He  has  a  zest  for  everything 
he  undertakes,  and  consequently  succeeds  where  another 
would  fail. 


CHAPTER   XVIII 
THE  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS 

OUR  NEW  POSSESSIONS  IN  THE  FAR  EAST  — THEIR  HISTORY- 
GEOGRAPHY  —  CLIMATE  —  WATERS  —  MINERALS  —  PRODUC 
TIONS—INHABITANTS  AND  POSSIBILITIES  UNDER  AMERICAN 
RULE 

HBBHMHBHmMH 

NCE  the  richest  islands  in  the 
world  have  come  into  the  pos 
session  of  the  United  States, 
through  the  valor  of  Admiral 
George  Dewey,  his  officers  and 
men,  a  general  interest  is  felt 
in  their  history,  their  peculiar 
features,  and  their  possibilities 
under  beneficent  American  rule. 

taU&navaXjlautong  The      iglands     were     discovered 

March  7,  1521,  by  Ferdinand  Magellan,  whose  correct 
name  was  Magalhaens.  Contrary  to  the  general  belief, 
he  was  not  a  Spaniard,  but  a  native  of  Portugal.  As 
is  well  known,  the  strait  at  the  southern  extremity  of 

(501) 


502 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


South  America  was  named  in  his  honor,  and  he  was 
the  first  navigator  to  pass  round  the  world.  Magellan 
shared  the  fate  of  Columbus,  for  his  own  country  did  not 
appreciate  his  work  as  a  navigator,  and  he  entered  the 
service  of  Charles  V.  of  Spain,  who  placed  him  in  charge 
of  a  fleet  that  was  to  attempt  a  westward  passage  to  the 
Moluccas.  He  was  engaged  upon  this  task  when  he 
discovered  the  Philippines. 


CORREGIDOR,  THE  FORTIFIED  ISLAND  THAT  STANDS  AT  THE  ENTRANCE  OF  MANILA  BAY 

The  natives  did  not  look  with  a  kindly  eye  upon 
the  swarthy  white  men,  and  noticing  how  few  they  were 
in  number,  dared  them  to  land.  Magellan  had  already 
been  ashore  on  the  island  of  Mindanao,  and  the  chal 
lenge  came  from  a  party  on  Mactan,  a  small  island  in 
front  of  Cebu.  Magellan  accepted  the  defiance  and  made 
his  landing,  accompanied  by  fifty  Spaniards,  who  soon 
found  themselves  engaged  in  a  furious  fight  with  two 
thousand  natives,  a  disparity  sufficient  to  overcome  the 
advantage  the  white  men  possessed  in  the  way  of  fire 
arms.  Magellan  was  mortally  wounded  by  an  arrow, 


PHILIPPINE 
ISLANDS 


E     A 

€i      Cottabatt 
Zamboa 

*  "C^BASILAN  I 
,1'  .SulU     ."'" 

"SULU 


MAP   OF   THE    PHILIPPINE    ISLANDS 


THE  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS 


505 


and  he  and   six  of  his   companions   died  August  26,  1521. 

His  ship  completed  the  circumnavigation  of  the  globe.     It 

was   characteristic  of  the  Spaniards  that  their  first  meet 
ing    with    the 

natives      should 

mean    a    fight, 

for  such  has  been 

their  policy  ever 

since   Spain  was 

a  nation. 

Appreciating 

the  value  of  these 

islands,    Spain 

sent     expedition 

after  expedition  thither  throughout  the  following  forty  years. 

Most  of  these  were  unfortunate,  for  the  Spaniards  had  no 

conception  of  the  right  way  of  winning  the  friend 
ship  and  con 
fidence  of  the 
simple-  hearted 
natives.  Under 
Philip  II.,  who 
ruled  Spain  from 
A.D.  1556  to  1593, 
a  fifth  expedi- 

"Irotv    53ix£petx«ixoxji    *^t*idqe  LlOll     vVaS    Sent     LO 

«PWS    JUv°err     ItUttUa.  the      Philippines, 

which,  it  may  be  said,  established  Spanish  authority  over  them. 
But    such    establishment    by    no    means    meant    tran 
quillity  and   undisputed   possession.     The   Spaniards  were 


506  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

kept  busy  fighting  Dutch,  English,  and  Chinese  marauders. 
One  of  the  most  terrible  foes  was  a  Chinese  outlaw,  who 
was  finally  slain  with  his  Japanese  lieutenant.  As  was 
to  be  expected,  there  was  continual  fighting,  more  or 
less,  with  the  natives,  who  were  treated  with  ferocious 
cruelty.  Early  in  the  seventeenth  century  a  Chinese 
rebellion  was  put  down,  after  more  than  twenty  thou 
sand  of  the  Celestials  had  been  killed. 

Soon  after  this  the  Dutch  made  several  attacks  upon 
the  Spaniards,  but  were  repulsed.  The  wars,  rebellions, 
volcanic  eruptions,  pestilences,  and  all  manner  of  dis 
turbances  were  too  numerous  to  bear  full  relation. 
Throughout  them  all,  Spain  kept  her  grip  upon  the 
Philippines,  but  it  was  continual  warfare  from  the  first 
down  to  the  fateful  May  1,  1898,  when  they  passed 
forever  from  her  possession. 

These  islands  lie  between  5°  32 '  and  19°  38'  north  lati 
tude,  and  between  117°  and  126°  east  longitude.  From 
east  to  west  their  extent  is  about  six  hundred  miles, 
with  a  length  north  and  south  of  some  one  thousand 
miles.  The  exact  number  of  the  islands  is  unknown, 
some  of  them  being  very  small.  There  are  probably 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  of  them  in  all.  They 
have  a  mountainous  surface,  with  a  good  natural  drain- 
agejin  Luzon,*  the  most  important  island.  The  estimated 

*The.  following  comparison  of  the  area  of  the  Philippines  with  that  of 
some  of  the  States  of  the  Union,  and  facts  relating  to  the  trade  and  climatic 
tions  of  the   islands,  have  been  compiled  by  the  War  Department  at 
Washington :  — 

Luzon,  the  largest  and  most  valuable  island  of  the  Philippine  group, 
has  an  area  of  50,000  square  miles,  nearly  the  same  as  that  of  New  York, 
North  Carolina,  Arkansas,  or  Louisiana.  The  combined  area  of  Wisconsin 


MAJOR-GENERAL    WESLEY    MERRITT,  U.  S.  A. 


THE   PHILIPPINE   ISLANDS  509 

area  of  the  islands  is  one  hundred  and  fifteen  thousand 
square  miles,  which  is  two  and  a  half  times  the  size  of 
the  State  of  New  York.  Luzon  itself,  with  the  small 
islands  belonging  to  it,  is  almost  as  large  as  the  Em 
pire  State.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  it  is  a  royal 
prize  that  has  come  into  the  possession  of  the  United 
States. 

As  to  the  climate  of  the  Philippines  it  is  very  warm 
and  moist.  It  never  is  really  cold,  and  the  temperature 
rarely  rises  above  100°.  The  warmest  season  is  from 
March  to  June,  and  the  coolest  from  December  to  Jan 
uary,  while  from  June  to  November  constitutes  the 
rainy  season,  the  greatest  rainfall  being  in  August  and 
September. 

The  islands  to  the  north  sometimes  suffer  from  {he 
violent  winds  known  as  typhoons,  which  occasionally  sweep 
across  the  lands  further  to  the  south,  the  severest  occur 
ring  during  the  autumnal  equinox.  Visitors  to  the  Philip 
pines  cannot  be  too  careful  in  observing  the  laws  of  health, 
for  the  climatic  conditions  are  bad.  Even  the  natives  are 


and  Illinois,  Georgia,  and  Florida,  or  New  York,  Vermont,  and  Pennsylvania 
equals  approximately  the  total  area  of  the  entire  archipelago,  which  is  115,- 
000  square  miles ;  while  the  State  of  Arizona  alone  is  almost  as  large. 

As  regards  the  foreign  trade  of  the  Philippines,  under  normal  conditions, 
$62,000,000  is  a  fair  estimate  of  its  volume.  In  1896  the  imports  amounted 
to  $26,500,000.  The  exports  in  1897  amounted  to  $37,000,000. 

From  the  fact  that  the  extreme  length  of  the  Philippine  group  is  from 
north  to  south,  its  northern  extremity  reaching  to  the  limit  of  the  tropical 
zone,  the  islands  have  a  considerable  variety  of  climate.  The  general  char 
acteristics,  however,  are  tropical.  March,  April,  and  May  are  the  hottest 
months,  while  the  coolest  are  October,  November,  December,  January,  and 
February.  The  humidity  is  at  all  times  excessive.  The  natives  always  seek 
shelter  from  the  sun  in  the  afternoon.  The  rainy  season  begins  in  June  and 
lasts  until  September. 


510 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


subject  to  fever,  and  many 
thousands  have  died  from 
cholera. 

The  most  extensive  moun 
tains  are  found  in  Luzon,  while 
others  of  less  elevation  exist 
in  Mindanao.  One  of  the  peaks 
on  the  latter  island  named  Apo 
reaches  a  height  of  nearly  two 
miles.  The  volcano  of  Mayon 
in  Luzon,  almost  as  lofty, 
has  had  several  violent  erup 
tions  during  the  past  years. 
More  than  once  Manila,  the 
principal  city,  has  suffered  from 
the  three  volcanoes  which  are 
in  the  neighborhood,  and  which 
may  be  said  to  be  an  ever- 
present  menace. 

Another  source  of  danger 
is  the  earthquakes,  to  which 
the  islands  are  peculiarly 
subject.  They  have  caused 
the  loss  of  many  lives  and 
the  destruction  of  property  beyond  estimate.  This  ever- 
present  danger  will  explain  the  peculiarity  that  strikes  a 
stranger  in  the  structure  of  the  houses,  which  are  made 
of  wood,  with  the  foundations  onlv  of  stone.  In  1882 


EMILIO    AGUINALDO  Y   FAMY  * 
Leader  of  the   Philippine   Insurgents 


*  Aguinaldo,  the  famous  Filipino   insurgent  chief,  was  born  in   Imus,  a 
village  near  Cavite",  about  thirty-one  years  ago.     His  father  was  a  planter. 


MAJOR-GENERAL    OTIS,   U.  S.  A. 


THE  PHILIPPINE   ISLANDS 


513 


Manila  was   swept  by   a   cyclone,   which   in   less  than  an 
hour  laid  half  the  city  in  ruins. 

Bearing  in  mind  the  immense  area  of  the  most  import 
ant  islands  and  the  extent  of  the  mountain  chains,  it  will 


THE    PROCLAMATION  OF  THE    FILIPINO  REPUBLIC  AT  MALOLOS,  SEPTEMBER,  1898. 
THE  HALL  IN  WHICH  THE  INSURGENT  CONGRESS  MET 

be  understood  that  they  are  favored  with  a  number  of 
rivers  of  considerable  size.  Some  of  these  empty  into  in 
land  seas  or  lakes,  while  most  of  them  open  out  into  broad 
estuaries,  which  permit  vessels  of  light  draught  to  penetrate 
a  long  way  into  the  interior. 

D-33 


514 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


As  showing  the  size  of  some  of  these  streams  it  may 
be  said  that  in  Luzon  the  Cagayan  is  two  hundred  miles 
in  length  and  the  Aqua  Grande  more  than  a  hundred 

miles.  ThePasig, 
of  which  mention 
has  been  made 
in  our  account 
of  the  military 
operations,  is  the 
most  important 
of  all  the  rivers, 
though  it  is 
barely  twenty 
}  miles  long,  for, 
having  its  source 
in  the  Lagoa  de  Bay,  it  finds  its  outlet  in  Manila  Bay. 
Mindanao  is  also  noted  for  its  rivers,  one  of  which,  the 
Agusan,  is  longer  than  the  Cagayan  of  Luzon.  The 
Lagoa  de  Bay,  in  ^ 

which  the  Pasig 
rises,  is  the  most 
important  lake  in-? 
Luzon.  Near 
Manila  is  a  beau 
tiful  sheet  of  wa 
ter  lying  in  the 
crater  of  a  volcano, 
whose  name  means  "The  Enchanted  Lake,"  and  it 
forms  one  of  the  most  interesting  curiosities  in  the  whole 
extent  of  the  islands. 


THE   PHILIPPINE   ISLANDS  517 

For  a  good  many  years  the  principal  harbors  of  the 
islands  have  been  closed  to  foreign  commerce,  being  used 
by  the  natives  in  their  trading  operations  along  the  coast. 
Because  of  this,  the  trade  has  been  confined  mainly  to 
Manila,  Iloilo,  Cebu,  and  Sual,  while  Zamboanga,  in  Min 
danao,  was  also  an  open  port.  From  our  description  of 
Manila  Bay  it  will  be  understood  that  it  is  one  of  the  finest 
and  most  capacious  harbors  in  the  world.  It  is  one  hundred 
and  twenty  miles  in  circumference  and  offers  few  dangers 
to  navigation.  Manila  has  long  been  the  capital  of  the 
Philippines  and  the  Spanish  centre  of  trade  for  the  Pacific. 
It  has  a  population  of  a  quarter  of  a  million,  and  the  ex 
tensive  harbor,  of  which  mention  has  just  been  made,  is 
vast  enough  to  permit  all  the  navies  of  the  world  to  ride 
at  anchor  within  it.  In  bad  weather  the  best  anchorage 
is  off  Cavite,  several  miles  to  the  southwest. 

These  islands  have  been  so  long  under  Spanish  rule 
that  they  show  all  the  sluggishness  and  crude  develop 
ment  of  the  colonies  of  that  country.  For  instance,  at 
this  writing,  the  only  railroad  communication  is  between 
Manila  and  Dagupan,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-three  miles,  but  the  telegraph  lines  are  probably 
a  thousand  miles  in  extent,  and  radiate  in  different  direc 
tions  from  Manila. 

Various  estimates  have  been  made  of  the  population  of 
the  islands,  but  the  most  reliable  data  place  the  number 
of  inhabitants  as  between  seven  and  eight  millions,  of 
whom  the  foreign  residents  number  no  more  than  twenty 
thousand,  while  the  mixed  bloods  are  somewhat  greater. 
Here,  as  elsewhere,  the  meek,  patient,  plodding  Chinaman 


518 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


MAJOR-GENERAL  HENRY  W.  LAWTON,  U.  S.  A. 

lays  who  formerly  occupied  the 
into  fifty-one  tribes,  which  may 
two  grand  divisions 
of  the  wild  moun 
tain  natives  and  the 
civilized  people  who 
live  along  the  coast 
and  are  brought  in 
contact  with  for 
eigners  or  their  own 
race  in  the  towns. 

Of  these  tribes 
the  most  powerful 
are  the  Visays,  who 


has  made  his  way  and 
saved  money  where  an 
ordinary  laborer  would 
starve.  While  there 
has  never  been  an 
exact  census  of  the 
Chinese  taken,  they 
must  number  nearly 
seventy  thousand. 

One  of  the  most   in 
teresting    features    of 
the  Philippines  is  the 
natives,  who  have  long 
been    a    study  to   the 
ethnologist.    They  are 
descendants  of  the  Ma- 
islands,  and  are  divided 
be    separated    into    the 


OLD  GLORY"  FLYING  ABOVE  FORT  MALATE,   MANILA 


THE  PHILIPPINE   ISLANDS 


519 


live  among  the  south 
ern  islands.  The  Neg 
ritos,  Cebus,  and  the 
Jabla  tribes,  found  in 
the  principal  islands, 
are  believed  to  be  the 
descendants  of  the  ori 
ginal  natives  of  the 
islands.  These  people 
make  their  living  by 
fishing  and  hunting, 
wandering  from  place 
to  place,  like  the  Amer 
ican  Indians.  All  are 
chewers  of  the  betel 
nut,  a  vegetable  pro 
duction  that  deserves  a 


GOVERNOR-GENERAL    AUGUSTIN 


THE   CASEOS  ON   MANILA  BAY 


passing  notice.  It  is  a  nar 
cotic  masticatory  used  not 
merely  for  chewing,  but 
to  dye  the  teeth  black  and 
to  impart  a  deep  red  color 
to  the  lips.  Among  females 
these  peculiarities  are  con 
sidered  marks  of  beauty, 
though  to  foreigners  the 
effect  is  the  reverse,  and 
the  manner  in  which  the 
herb  is  chewed  is  disgust 
ing.  To  one  unaccustomed 


520  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

to  the  indulgence  it  acts  as  a  powerful  astringent  in  the 
mouth  and  throat,  and  the  quicklime  with  which  it  is 
mixed  often  removes  the  skin  and  deadens  the  taste. 
After  a  time  the  effect  is  pleasant  and  exhilarating  and 
lasts  a  good  while. 

Like  many  savage  peoples,  the  natives  show  great 
cleverness  in  carving,  some  of  their  handiwork  being 
beautiful  and  artistic.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  plaiting 
of  nets,  weaving,  and  embroidering.  The  valuable  com 
merce  of  the  islands  is  mainly  in  the  hands  of  the  Brit 
ish,  Americans,  French,  Germans,  and  Swiss,  though  the 
Spanish  laws  have  often  discriminated  to  an  injurious  de 
gree  against  the  trading  interests  of  foreign  nations.  The 
most  extensive  tracts  of  land  in  Luzon  are  under  the  con 
trol  of  religious  orders,  in  whose  favor  the  Spanish  laws 
have  been  so  glaringly  partial,  and  from  whose  exactions 
the  people  have  suffered  so  severely,  that  it  has  been 
one  of  the  potent  causes  of  revolt.  Aguinaldo  and  those 
associated  with  him  claimed  that  the  tyranny  of  the  re 
ligious  orders  had  become  intolerable. 

It  would  be  a  grave  error  to  look  upon  all  the  Fili 
pinos  as  savages,  though  there  are  thousands  of  them  in 
the  interior  who  are  as  barbarous  as  the  Sioux  Indians 
in  our  own  country.  Provision  on  a  large  scale  has  been 
made  for  the  education  of  children.  In  1889,  there  were 
more  than  one  thousand  five  hundred  schools  for  boys 
and  girls,  the  instructors  of  whom  were  provided  by  the 
Normal  School  in  Manila,  besides  which  there  were  a  large 
number  of  private  schools.  The  University  of  San  Tomas 
de  Manila  was  founded  nearly  three  centuries  ago,  though 


SCENES    IN    THE    PHILIPPINE    ISLANDS     (No.    1) 


THE  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS  523 

much  cannot  be  said  of  its  value  as  a  leader  in  liberal 
education.  A  much  more  valuable  institution  is  the  col 
lege  of  San  Juan  de  Lateran,  founded  in  1820,  while  the 
Municipal  Athenaeum,  under  the  care  of  the  Jesuits,  must 
not  be  forgotten.  Little  praise  can  be  given  to  the  news 
papers,  which,  being  under  the  control  of  the  government, 
were  the  enemies  of  progress  and  liberal  ideas. 

Manila  will  always  hold  a  peculiar  interest  to  Ameri 
cans,  for,  as  we  have  already  shown,  it  was  the  scene  of 
one  of  the  grandest  exploits  of  one  of  the  grandest  char 
acters  that  figure  in  ancient  or  modern  annals.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  it  stands  on  the  western  side  of 
Luzon  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Pasig  and  Manila  Bay, 
and,  occupying  both  shores  of  the  stream,  is  connected  by 
a  stone  bridge  four  hundred  and  twenty  feet  long  and 
by  an  iron  suspension  bridge.  For  military  and  other 
purposes  the  city  is  divided  into  the  right  or  north  shore, 
which  contains  eight  suburbs,  while  the  south  or  left 
shore  of  the  Pasig  has  the  Ciudad  proper  or  fort.  This 
is  made  of  high  solid  walls,  protected  by  a  citadel  and 
surrounded  by  a  number  of  wide,  deep  ditches.  The  scen 
ery  along  the  Pasig,  all  the  way  to  the  lake,  is  among 
the  most  charming  and  beautiful  to  be  found  anywhere. 

The  thoughts  of  Americans  have  been  turned  for  months 
to  the  Philippines,  and  the  question  has  been  asked  times 
without  number  as  to  what  development  they  are  capable 
of.  The  islands  of  themselves  are  the  most  valuable  in 
the  world  ;  and  despite  the  princely  revenue  poured  into  the 
lap  of  Spain  by  the  "Pearl  of  the  Antilles,"  her  colonies 
in  the  Far  East  were  still  richer.  If  they  furnished  so 


524  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

much  valuable  trade  in  cigars,  sugar,  coffee,  tobacco,  hemp, 
rice,  cocoamats,  cordage,  and  cotton  or  mixed  fabrics,  they 
would  undoubtedly  do  vastly  more  under  intelligent  and 
energetic  management. 

First,  in  regard  to  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  country. 
Gold  has  been  found  in  different  parts,  though  so  far  as 
yet  known  it  does  not  exist  extensively.  The  leading 
mineral  products  are  coal  and  iron,  the  latter  being 
abundant  in  many  of  the  islands.  The  iron  mines  in 
Luzon  exceed  all  the  others  and  the  quality  is  excellent, 
most  of  it  being  equal  to  the  famous  product  of  Sweden. 
Magnetic  iron  is  found  in  many  places  and  is  remarkably 
pure. 

Pit  coal  is  also  plentiful  and  was  first  discovered  on 
the  island  of  Cebu.  It  was  afterwards  found  in  so 
many  other  places  that  coal  mining  became  an  im 
portant  industry,  though  of  late  years  the  output  has 
diminished.  Another  valuable  mineral  is  copper,  of 
which  rich  veins  exist  in  the  district  of  Lepanto. 
Learning  the  value  of  the  mineral,  a  good  many  na 
tives  drive  a  thriving  trade  by  bringing  it  into  the 
towns  and  to  the  different  trading  posts  and  bartering 
it  to  dealers  who  are  eager  to  buy.  Naturally,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  extinct  volcanoes  large  quantities 
of  sulphur  have  been  found,  while  antimony  also  exists 
in  the  provinces  of  Zambales. 

The  other  commercial  minerals  are  mercury,  occa 
sionally  unearthed  in  the  province  of  Caraga  and  else 
where;  lead  in  Cebu;  marbles  on  the  island  of  Romblon, 
of  Guimaras,  and  the  mountains  of  Bataan;  granite  in 


THE   PHILIPPINE   ISLANDS 


525 


the  Sierra  of 
Mariveles ;  and 
jasper  and  basal 
tic  tufa  in  Gua- 
dalupe.  There 
are  abundant 
mineral  waters, 
the  most  noted 
being  the  iron 
springs  of  Tau- 
calao  in  the  pro 
vince  of  Albay, 
in  the  province 
of  Laguna,  and 
the  sulphur 
springs  of  Anti- 
polo.  The  ther 
mal  spring  in 
Pagsangan  has 
the  reputation  of  having  wrought  many  remarkable  cures, 
and,  being  inclosed  amid  the  most  picturesque  and  beau 
tiful  scenery,  it  is  a  favorite  resort.  Under  the  manage 
ment  of  a  company  of  hustling  Americans,  all  these 
springs  could  be  made  a  source  of  lucrative  revenue. 
Experiments  and  investigation  have  brought  many  new 
springs  to  light,  leaving  it  fair  to  infer  that  still  others 
are  awaiting  discovery  in  different  parts  of  the  islands. 
The  vegetable  productions  of  the  Philippines  are  in 
teresting,  varied,  and  valuable.  Stretching  north  and 
south  through  fifteen  degrees  of  latitude,  with  a  soil  in 


From  Photo.     Copyright   1898,  by  F.   Gtitekunst,  Philadelphia 
REAR-ADMIRAL    JOHN    C.  WATSON.    U.  S.   N. 


526  LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 

many  parts  of  the  most  fertile  nature,  with  a  favoring 
climate,  it  would  be  strange  indeed  if  these .  islands  did 
not  present  possibilities  that  cannot  fail  to  draw  the 
attention  of  capitalists  and  even  men  of  moderate 
means.  It  is  safe  to  assume  that  within  the  next  ten 
years  the  production  will  double  or  triple  as  a  result  of 
the  infusion  of  American  blood,  energy,  pluck,  and  enterprise. 

The  mountains  give  a  characteristic  peculiarity  to  the 
vegetable  productions,  while  the  equatorial  lowlands  lend 
a  rich  exuberance  to  the  growth,  and  produce  an  almost 
endless  variety  in  the  vegetable  wealth  of  the  country. 
It  may  be  said  that  there  are  few  productions  of  the 
torrid  or  temperate  zones  which  do  not  find  congenial  soil 
in  some  portions  of  the  islands.  Thus  in  the  Sulu  Archi 
pelago  the  characteristic  is  equatorial,  but  this  disappears 
in  Mindanao,  although  still  retaining  a  tropical  nature  all 
the  way  to  the  north  of  Luzon,  where  equatorial  growth 
again  appears  in  great  profusion. 

Agriculture  can  be  pushed  with  a  certainty  of  valuable 
returns,  but  as  yet  that  industry  is  of  the  crudest  and 
most  undeveloped  form.  Like  the  monks  and  Indians  of 
California,  who  trod  the  rich  soil  for  centuries  without 
suspecting  the  untold  treasures  of  gold  that  were  sleeping 
in  the  ground,  the  people  of  the  Philippines  seem  never 
to  have  realized  the  marvelous  development  of  which  the 
soil  is  capable.  Thousands  of  agriculturists  would  find 
there  all  the  favoring  conditions  they  could  ask,  except 
perhaps  so  far  as  personal  comfort  is  concerned.  The 
abaca-tree,  from  which  the  famous  Manila  hemp  is  ob 
tained,  has  long  been  one  of  the  most  important  factors 


THE  PHILIPPINE   ISLANDS 


527 


of  commerce.  Rice,  corn,  sugar-cane,  coffee,  tobacco,  and 
indigo  find  in  the  Philippines  every  desirable  condition  for 
their  fullest  development. 

Rice,  which  forms  one  of  the  leading  staples  of  food, 
not  only  in  the  East,  but  in  many  other  countries,  grows 
in  profusion  and  is  the  chief  dependence  of  the  natives  in 


SPANISH    HISTORICAL    PERSONAGES      (No.   1) 


the  way  of  food.  It  flourishes  in  the  mountains,  on  the 
plains,  and,  as  in  South  Carolina,  in  water.  It  is  such  a 
favorite  with  the  people  that  their  greatest  ingenuity  is 
displayed  in  its  culture.  It  is  found  in  all  parts  of  the 
islands,  and  in  many  instances  has  brought  wealth  to  those 
who  were  able  to  cultivate  it  on  a  large  scale. 


5-2S 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


Next  in  importance 
to  rice  is  the  cultiva 
tion  of  sugar.  Several 
varieties  —  all  of  the 
best  quality  —  of  sugar 
cane  grow,  and  the 
product  comes  nearer 
that  of  any  other 
country  in  its  excel 
lence  to  the  sugar  of 
Cuba.  It  is  most  abund 
antly  cultivated  in  the 
provinces  of  Negros, 
Pampangas,  Bulacan, 
and  Batangas. 

The  industry,  how- 

yields      tll6 


CHRISTINA,   THE    QUEEN    REGENT  OF  SPAIN 

most  valuable  returns  is  the  cultivation  of  tobacco,  which 
since  1882  has  been  untaxed.  The  Manila  "wrapper"  for 
cigars  has  long  been  a  favorite  with  the  users  of  the  weed, 
and  the  product  itself  is  of  such  a  superior  quality  that  ten 
times  the  crops  now  produced  would  find  a  ready  sale  in 
the  leading  marts  of  the  world. 

Manila  hemp,  as  every  one  knows,  has  long  been  one 
of  the  most  noted  products  of  the  islands.  As  has  been 
stated,  it  is  obtained  from  the  abaca-tree,  and  the  annual 
export,  previous  to  the  recent  troubles,  was  almost  $30,- 
000,000.  As  a  rule,  it  is  exported  in  the  form  of  raw  ma 
terial,  though  considerable  trade  has  been  carried  on  for 
years  in  the  matting  and  tissues  woven  by  the  natives  in 


THE   PHILIPPINE   ISLANDS 


529 


the  interior.  In  1892 
the  product  of  Manila 
hemp  amounted  nearly 
to  one  hundred  thou 
sand  tons.  It  will  be 
seen  that  as  relates  to 
hemp  the  Philippines 
offer  tempting  induce 
ments  to  capitalists. 

Indigo  not  only 
abounds,  but  in  quality 
it  has  no  superior  in 
any  part  of  the  world. 
The  same  may  be  said, 
with  some  reservation, 
of  the  coffee.  Some 
experts  declare  the 
coffee  of  Mindanao  superior  to  the  more  famous  Mocha 
product.  The  ^cultivation  of  cereals,  however,  has  been 
generally  neglected,  dependence  for  flour  and  grain  being 
mostly  upon  California.  This  neglect  may  seem  singular, 
when  the  soil  and  climatic  conditions  are  so  favorable, 
but  the  real  cause  lies  in  the  endless  disputes  over  the 
ownership  of  land,  the  difficulties  of  land  transportation, 
and  the  oppressive  taxation,  which  has  often  been  of  so 
whimsical  a  nature  that  no  calculation  could  be  based 
upon  it.  The  richness  of  the  soil  is  shown  in  the  fact 
that  many  of  the  cereals  grow  wild  in  the  mountains. 

It  would  naturally  be  supposed  that  cotton  is  a  leading 
product,  but  such  is  not  the  fact.     Not  only  is  its  growth 

D— 34 


ALPHONSO  XIII,    KING  OF  SPAIN 


530 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


meagre,  but  its  quality  is  poor.  It  is  not  probable  that  its 
culture  will  ever  yield  satisfactory  returns  in  the  Philip 
pines.  The  best  is  found  in  the  provinces  of  Batangas 
and  Ilocos. 

Cocoa  deserves  mention,  since  a  large  area  of  the  islands 
is  devoted  to  its  cultivation.  That  which  is  produced  in 
Cebu  equals  the  best  grown  anywhere. 


SPANISH     HISTORICAL    PERSONAGES     (No.  2) 


In  the  nature  of  things,  the  Philippines  abound  with 
the  most  valuable  timber  and  commercial  woods.  Think 
of  a  wood  that  can  be  exposed  to  all  kinds  of  weather 
or  kept  submerged  for  hundreds  of  years  and  yet  remain 
as  firm,  solid,  and  uninjured  as  when  first  cut  down.  This 
wonderful  peculiarity  belongs  to  the  tree  known  as  the 
molave,  which  seems  to  be  as  impermeable  to  moisture 


THE  PHILIPPINE   ISLANDS 


531 


A  HOUSE   USED  AS  A  BLOCKHOUSE,    NEAR    MANILA 


as  iron.     Black  ebony, 

red    mahogany,     and 

woods  especially  valu 

able   for  molding  are 

found   in   the    forests 

which  cover  an    area 

of  thousands  of  square 

miles.       In     addition, 

there   must   be    other 

trees  of  vast  worth  to 

commerce    of    which 

comparatively  nothing 

is  at  present  known. 

In  the  forests  there  seems  to  be  no  end  to  the  palms, 

bananas,  cloves,   pepper,   allspice,  cinnamon,  and   nutmeg, 

while  at  heights  of  a  thousand  feet  or  more  the  fern-trees 

grow   luxuriantly.     Of    pot    plants    there    are    more    than 

three  thousand,  sev 
eral  hundred  of  which 
are  indigenous  to  the 
islands.  It  must  not 
be  forgotten  that  a 
great  many  of  the 
plants  possess  a  high 
medicinal  value. 

Now,  while  we  have 
endeavored  to  set 
forth  briefly  the  ca 
pacities  of  these  inter- 


THE    EFFECT  OF  AN  AMERICAN  THREE-INCH  SHELL 


6Sting       ISlanClS 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


A  STREET  IN    THE  OUTSKIRTS   OF    MALOLOS 


American  control  and 
management,  we 
should  not  be  fair  to 
our  readers  if  we  failed 
to  warn  them  of  the 
disadvantages  that  are 
certain  to  be  encoun 
tered,  though  it  must 
be  said  they  are  no 
greater,  and  in  many 
respects  are  less,  than 
what  our  countrymen 
have  met  and  over 
come  in  other  parts  of  the  world. 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  climate,  which  while 
it  does  not  offer  the  extremes  found  in  our  own  country, 
is  still  enervating  and  often  fatal  to  foreigners,  especially 
when  they  are  care 
less  in  observing  the 
laws  of  health.*  Sheep 

*  Consul  O.  F.  Williams, 
however,  writes  to  the  State 
Department  from  Manila, 
under  date  of  February  24, 
1899,  as  follows:  — 

"I  wish  to  refute  the 
statements  generally  circu 
lated  in  regard  to  the  health 
and  climate  of  the  Philip 
pine  Islands.  Being  within 
the  tropics,  they  of  course 
lack  the  invigorating  effects 
of  frost,  and  the  temperature 
averages  high  — at  Manila 
about  78.3°  F. ;  but  extremes  NAT1VE  HUTS  NEAR  POLQ)  NQRTH  Qfr  MAN)LA 


THE  PHILIPPINE  ISLANDS  533 

do  not  thrive  and  the  horses,  though  tough  and  en 
during,  are  miserable  -  looking  creatures.  Mosquitoes 
swarm  by  the  billion.  They  are  everywhere,  and  only  by 
the  use  of  netting  and  great  care  can  any  one  secure  im 
munity  from  the  pests.  We  have  plenty  of  these  nuisances 
in  our  own  country,  but  there  are  few  sections  that  are 
so  plagued  as  the  Philippines. 

Besides  the  mosquitoes  there  is  a  species  of  white 
ant,  whose  voracity  is  almost  incredible.  Thus  far  the 
only  wood  through  which  they  do  not  eat  their  way  is 
the  metallic  molave.  There  is  reason  for  fearing  that 
after  their  teeth  have  become  sharpened  from  practice, 
they  will  find  a  way  of  successfully  attacking  this  wood, 
since  it  has  been  established  by  scientific  investigation 
that  there  are  insects  in  existence  which  actually  gnaw 


are  not  wide  apart,  and  during  the  last  year  I  heard  of  no  temperature 
below  57°  F.  in  the  islands,  and  none  below  the  sixties  in  Manila.  Mercury 
in  the  shade  rarely  rises  above  85,  nor  above  95  in  the  sun. 

"  Being  on  the  coast  of  a  bay  so  large  as  to  be  almost  an  inland  sea, 
and  having  eight  miles  to  the  east  a  lake,  with  one  hundred  miles  of  shore, 
whose  waters  seek  the  bay  through  the  large  and  rapid  Pasig,  the  city  of 
Manila  has  fresh  air  constantly,  as  well  as  sea  breezes. 

"The  sewers  of  Manila  are  not  good,  and  can  never  be  first  class,  be 
cause  of  its  low  levels ;  but  the  rainfall  here  is  above  ten  feet  per  annum 
and  quite  evenly  distributed,  so  that  the  streets  are  rain  swept  and  the 
sewers  well  flushed  almost  every  day.  There  is  also  an  advantage  in  hot^ 
wet  weather,  which  hastens  the  decay  of  vegetable  or  animal  matter,  this 
soon  rotting  and  being  washed  away. 

"The  city  water  supply  is  abundant.  The  water  is  carried  in  large  iron 
pipes  about  seven  miles  from  springs,  and  is  exceptionally  pure  and  agree 
able  to  the  taste.  I  use  it  every  day  as  a  beverage  and  have  never  ex 
perienced  ill  effects  therefrom.  I  have  not  been  sick  a  minute  since  I  left 
the  United  States  in  1897. 

"In  filthy  quarters  smallpox  may  be  found  almost  any  day,  but  few 
deaths  result,  and  the  sanitary  measures  of  the  present  government  have 
been  of  the  greatest  benefit.  The  death  rate  is  small  and  it  is  only  neces 
sary  to  live  properly  to  be  entirely  healthy." 


534 


LIFE  OF  ADMIRAL  DEWEY 


FILIPINO  HUTS  THATCHED  WITH    NIPA  PALM    LEAVES 


iron,  without  injury 
to  their  incisors  and 
with  great  damage  to 
the  metal. 

The  crocodiles  are 
never  desirable  neigh 
bors,  and  there  are 
plenty  of  them  in  the 
Philippines,  though 
they  can  hardly  be 
looked  upon  as  a  men 
ace  to  human  life. 
Naturally  there  are 
many  serpents,  a  few  of  which  are  very  deadly.  One  of 
these,  and  the  most  terrible  of  all,  resembles  so  closely 
the  green  leaf  of  the  rice  plant  that  a  person  is  not  likely 
to  discover  his  mistake  until  bitten,  when  it  is  too  late, 
for  there  is  no  known  antidote  for  its  fearful  poison.  The 
merciful  fact  is  that 
it  is  exceedingly  rare. 
There  have  been  na 
tives  who  have  lived 
all  their  lives  among 
the  rice  fields  without 
ever  having  seen  a 
"  dekenpalay,"  whose 
name  indicates  its 
resemblance  to  the 
green  leaf  of  the  rice 
plant. 

A  BARRICADE  ON  THE   ROAD    FROM   MANILA  TO  POLO 


?5^|C^ 

Ttloutlx  o£  tke 


SCENES    IN    THE    PHILIPPINE    ISLANDS     (No.  2) 


THE   PHILIPPINE   ISLANDS  537 

The  boa  is  another  species  of  snake  found  in  the 
islands,  but  it  is  not  held  in  much  dread,  since,  like  ail 
constrictors,  it  is  not  venomous,  and  ordinarily  a  man 
has  little  trouble  in  keeping  beyond  reach  of  its  un 
pleasant  attentions.  It  is  said  that  three-fourths  of  the 
known  species  of  serpents  are  found  in  the  Philippines,  but 
they  are  not  to  be  compared  with  those  of  India,  where 
annually  thousands  of  people  lose  their  lives  from  snake 
bites. 

Many  animals  are  found.  Deer,  which  afe  probably 
the  most  widely  distributed  of  all  quadrupeds,  are  numerous 
in  some  sections  and  their  flesh  is  of  a  good  quality.  There 
are  also  wild  bulls,  horses,  and  buffaloes,  with  apparently 
no  end  of  monkeys,  mountain  cats,  marine  and  land  birds. 

The  policy  of  Spain  was  a  dead  weight  for  years 
upon  the  development  of  the  islands.  One  of  the  most 
grievous  complaints  of  the  Americans,  and  one  which 
helped  to  lead  to  the  Revolution  was  the  Navigation 
Laws,  which  compelled  the  colonies  to  carry  on  com 
merce  only  with  England.  This  policy  was  followed 
to  a  more  rigorous  extent  by  Spain  in  the  Philippines 
until  recent  years.  The  peasantry  were  forbidden  to 
sell  to  any  parties  except  the  Spanish  government  at 
prescribed  rates.  The  government  had  absolute  control 
over  all  exports,  and  foreigners  were  not  allowed  to  pur 
chase  real  estate.  The  direct  and  indirect  taxation  made 
up  one-half  of  the  receipts  of  Spain  from  the  islands; 
other  onerous  regulations  were  established,  and  it  can 
well  be  understood  why  the  natives  revolted  so  many  times 
against  the  rule  of  a  nation  that  is  not  only  tyrannous 


588  LIFE   OF   ADMIRAL   DEWEY 

to  her  subjects,  but  is  lacking  in  the  simplest  rudiments 
required  for  the  successful  government  of  her  dependencies. 

Such  is  the  country  to  which  the  victories  of  the  gal 
lant  Dewey  promise  a  brighter  and  a  happier  future. 
Named  after  the  cruel  Philip  when  discovered  by  the  famous 
Portuguese  navigator,  the  islands  have  been  scenes  of 
cruelty  and  oppression  from  that  day  to  this,  without  jus 
tice  and  without  peace.  Blessed  by  (Uxl  with  all  the 
sources  of  wealth  and  refinement,  with  the  finest  of  min 
erals,  the  finest  fruits  and  the  most  beautiful  woods,  with 
a  position  that  is  the  envy  of  the  world  ''at  the  gateway 
of  the  day,"  under  the  Spaniard  nothing  has  been  done 
for  such  a-  country.  It  has  been  left  a  field  for  the  grossest 
superstition  and  for  the  most  grasping  rapacity.  Surely 
now  a  better  day  is  about  to  dawn  for  the  millions  of  its 
inhabitants,  perhaps  as  yet  unknown  to  them,  which  will, 
however,  certainly  lead  to  a  morning  of  joy. 

Under  the  protecting  power  of  America  the  West  will 
lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  East,  and  the  Philippines  wall 
be  Philippines  no  longer,  but  a  country  freed  from  every 
thing  that  is  associated  with  so  baneful  a  name,  to  become 
a  hind  of  religious  freedom,  happiness,  prosperity,  and 
peace. 


GENERAL    INDEX 


Adams,  I'nited   States  war  vessel    ;U(J 

Adelar,  Countess,  wife  of  Hugh  Magnus       44li 

Adirondack*,  The ;{2 

Ai/nii'itm,  The,  gunboat,  George  Dewey  or 
dered  to  join,  180. 

Agriculture,  possibilities  for,  in  the  Philip 
pines,  52(»-:{0. 

Aguiualdo,  Gen.  Kmilio,  Filipino  leader,  208, 
20!),  510  (iiotr);  returns  to  the  Philippines 
alter  Dewey's  victory,  200;  co-operation  of, 
with  Dewey,  200;  announces  a  provisional 
Filipino  government  independent  of  the 
I'nited  States,  2'0;  aspirations  of,  404. 

Agusan   River 514 

Alnbnma,The,    Confederate    cruiser 180 

Alan,    Lord  of  Galloway 447 

Alaska,  Territory  of ;{]!) 

Alitukti,  The,    I'nited   States  vessel .'5KJ 

Albert  I.,  the  Pious,  Count  de  Vermandois.    44<> 

Alexander  the  Great 44;{ 

Alexandria,    Kgypt,  visited  by   George   Dewey, 

148;  the    \Vnhash  in  collision  at,  148. 
Algado,  Commander  Don  Alon/o,  abandons  the 
Cnxtilht    and    takes    off    his    crew    in    good 
order,  '21)2. 

Alisa,   Lady 442 

Allen,  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Charles 
H.,  JJ84. 

-  Kthan,  22,  M2,  .'{(>,  44,  402;  statue  of,  at 
Montpelier,  Vt.,    .'{(>;  place  of,  in   the  affec 
tions  of  the  people  of  his  native  State,  M. 
Amelia,    Lady,    wife    of    the    second    Earl   of 

Leicester,  444. 

American  guns  and  gunnery,  importance  of 
effectiveness  of,  2(!5. 

—  interests  in  China,  protection  of,   194; 
remarks  of  Dewey  on,  418,  41!). 
—  squadron.     See  StiUAimoN. 
Americans,    coolness    of   the,    at  the   Battle  of 
Manila  Bay,    2(51;   perfect  war  material  of 


the,  2i;ii;  rapid  firing  of  the,  288;  second 
attack  of  the,  2!)5;  reasons  for  victory  of  the, 
:i!2;  slight  casualties  to  the,  270. 

Ammunition,  amount  of,  used  on  the  7Y//W,  at 
the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  ML;  perfect 'ac 
tion  of,  on  the  /Y//W,  :{5(J;  amount,  of,  used 
on  the  Concord,  :{(i(i. 

Angus   family 44;) 

—  Gilbert,  Karl  of ,  .   447 

—  Lady  Alansce  of 447 

—  Robert,  Second   Karl  of 447 

Annapolis,  Md  |  jr, 

-  Naval  Academy,  sketch  of  George  Dew 
ey's  life  at  the,  101-22;  condemnation  of 
lying  at,  117,  118. 

Anjou  and  ( >rleans,  Rohert-fortis,  Count  of,  442. 
Anne  of   Prussia,  wife  of    Henry  I.  of    France 
44:i,  44(>. 

Antipolo,    Philippine  Islands 525 

Aqua  Grande  River,  Philippine  Islands.       514 

Aracides 44:5 

Arkansas,  The,  Confederate  ram 17<» 

Armenia 44:5 

Army  of  the  Potomac    85,  .'{15 

Asiatic  squadron.  The,  Dewey's  first  service 
on,  184;  opposition  to  the  assignment  of 
Dewey  to,  1!)2;  assignment  of  Dewey  to, 
184,  187,  !!).'{;  illness  of  Dewey  while  on  his 
way  to  join,  187,  188;  concentrated  by 
Dewey  at  Hong-Kong,  l!)5;  not  so  strong 
numerically  as  the  fleet  of  either  England  or 
Russia,  in  ( 'hinese  waters,  41!) ;  credited  with 
a  "glorious  display  of  intelligent  command 
and  successful  service,"  272;  Rear-Admiral 
Charles  C.  Carpenter  in  command  of,  8-'{. 
Athens,  visited  by  George  Dewey 188 

B 

Babin,  Knsign  P.,  of  the  fatleiyh 3()(j 

Bachelder,  Knsign  II.  S.  N.,  one  of  the  last  to 
leave  the  burning  Mississippi,  179. 
(539) 


540 


GENERAL    INDEX 


Bacoor,  Philippine  Islands 287 

—  Roads  of,  286 ;  Spanish  squadron  ordered 
to,  after  the  first  engagement  at  the  Battle  of 
Manila  Bay,  295. 

Bailey,  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Raleigh 306 

—  Mercy,  ancestor  of  George  Dewey,  448, 
459. 

Baker  Bay,  Manila,  position  of  Spanish  squadron 

at,  247. 

Balkeman,  Assistant  Surgeon  K.  S.,  of  the  Bos 
ton,  305. 

Baltimore,  Md 319 

Baltimore,  The,  United  States  cruiser,  211,  212, 
316,  376;  description  of,  301,  302;  tonnage 
and  guns  of,  229 ;  protection  of  ammunition 
hoists  on,  234;  officers  of,  at  the  Battle  of 
Manila  Bay,  302;  complement  of  men  of 
the,  302;  sent  with  the  Boston  and  Concord 
to  reconnoitre  Subic  Bay,  235;  signaled  to 
prepare  for  general  action,  338;  position  of, 
in  the  line  at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay, 
216,  226;  manoeuvres  of,  during  the  battle, 
341,  342;  follows  the  flagship  Olympia  in 
attacking  the  Castilla  and  Reina  Christina, 
247;  ordered  to  intercept  an  incoming  Brit 
ish  steamer,  341 ;  signaled  to  withdraw  from 
action,  341 ;  signaled  to  lead  second  attack, 
341 ;  accorded  place  of  honor  in  the  second 
engagement,  226;  passes  directly  over  two 
Spanish  mines,  262;  excellent  aim  of  the 
gunners  of,  in  the  second  engagement,  226 ; 
signaled  to  attack  the  enemy's  earthworks, 
342;  silences  the  batteries  at  Canacao  and 
Sangley  Point,  342;  cheered  by  the  other 
crews  for  brilliant  work  in  silencing  the 
shore  batteries,  244;  damages  to,  from  Span 
ish  shot,  344,  345 ;  pierced  by  two  shells,  265 ; 
casualties  to,  considered  slight,  270;  six  men 
injured  on  board  of,  271 ;  trouble  with  firing 
devices,  342;  behavior  of  the  officers  and 
crew  of,  during  the  battle,  343;  conduct  of 
officers  and  crew  of,  commended  by  Lieuten 
ant-Commander  Briggs,  344;  assisted  by  the 
Raleigh,  destroys  six  batteries  at  the  en 
trance  to  Manila  Bay,  245. 

Barron,  Captain  Samuel,  of  the  WabasJi,  128, 
167;  examines  George  Dewey's  logbook,  168. 

Basconi,  Thomas 447 

Basil,  the  Macedonian,  first  Emperor  of  Con 
stantinople,  443. 

Bataan,  Philippine  Islands 524 

Batangas,  Philippine  Islands 528 

Baton  Rouge,  La 179 

Bath,  Carpenter,  O.,  of  the  Baltimore 302 

"  Battle  of  Torn  ( 'oats  " 92 

'  Battle  of  Manila,  The  "  (song) 476-9 

"  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  The"  (song).  . .   474-6 

Bellamont,  Lady  Margaret  de 445,  446 

-Robert  de 444^446 


Bellamont,  Robert  Bossu  de 444,  446 

Bellows,  Pay-Inspector  E.,  of  the  Baltimore.  302 

Bellung,  King  of  the  Worder 442 

Benevento,  Commander  R.,  of  the  Spanish 
dispatch  boat  General  Lezo,  240. 

Bennington,  Battle  of 44 

Berkeley  family,  The 449 

Berlin,  Vt.,  the  birthplace  of  George  Dewey's 
mother,  53. 

Bernard,  King  of  Italy 446 

Beyrout,  Syria,  visited  by  George  Dewey,  147; 

'revisited  by  him  in  1886,  188. 
Biddle,  Captain-of-Marines  W.  P.,  of  the  Olym 
pia,  301 ;  mentioned  by  Captain  Gridley,  329. 
Blockinger,  Lieutenant-Commander  G.,  of  the 

Baltimore,  302. 
Boca    Grande,  Manila,   entrance   of   American 

squadron  into,  216,  237,  321,  366. 
Boggs,  Charles  S.,  Rear-Admiral  U.  S.  N.     83 

-  William  B.,   Pay-Director 83 

Bolinao,    Philippine    Islands,    arrival    of    the 

American  squadron  at,  247. 
Boston,  City  of 411 

-  Navy  Yard 313,  317 

—  United  States  cruiser,  318,  330;  descrip 
tion  of,  302;  tonnage  and  guns  of,  229;  offi 
cers   of,  302,  complement  of  men   of,  302; 
sent  with  the  Concord  to  reconnoitre  Subic 
Bay,  235,  247 ;  returns  the  fire  of  the  Span 
ish  battery  on  Corregidor  Island,  238,  247, 
321 ;  position  of,  in  the  line  of  battle  at  Ma 
nila,  216,  247,  332;  follows  the   Olympia  in 
engaging  the  Castilla  and  Reina  Christina, 
222;  temporarily  withdraws  from  action,  331 ; 
signaled  to   enter    the    inner    harbor,  with 
others,  and  destroy  all  of  the  Spanish  ships, 
226,  227;   runs  aground  twice  in  trying  to 
enter  the  inner  harbor,  262 ;  damage  to,  dur 
ing  the  engagement,  225,  226,  331,  336 ;  effi 
cient  supply  of  ammunition  on,  335 ;  technical 
account  of  service  of  guns  on,  332,  335 ;  lack 
of  range-finders  on,  332;  officers  and  men  of, 
commended  by  Captain  Wildes,  331 ;  officers 
and  crew  of,  warmly  commended  by  Lieu 
tenant-Commander  Norris,  337;  bravery  of 
Chinese  servants  on,  337,  338. 

Bourns,  Reverend  Edward,  former  president  of 
Norwich  University,  86,  87;  remarks  of  a 
former  pupil  concerning,  87. 

Brady,  Assistant  Engineer  J.  R.,  of  the  R«- 
lei(/h,  306. 

Braunersreuther,  Lieutenant  W.,  of  the  Balti 
more,  302. 

Brayton,  Acting  Boatswain  H.  R.,  of  the  Balti 
more,  302. 

Briggs,  Lieutenant-Commander  John  B.,  ex 
ecutive  officer  of  the  Baltimore,  229;  official 
report  of,  regarding  the  Baltimore's  share  in 
the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  343-345. 


GENERAL   INDEX 


541 


British,  The,  at  Ticonderoga 36 

Broderick,  Passed  Assistant  Surgeon  K.  G.,  of 

the  Concord,  306. 
Brooklyn,  X.  Y 168 

—  Navy  Yard 318,  400 

Brooklyn,  The,   United  States  cruiser ....   413 

-  The,  United  States  war  vessel,  314,  316 
Brown,  Assistant  Engineer  of   the  Mississippi, 
176. 

—  Commander  Allan  D.,  of  Norwich  Uni 
versity,  85. 

President  A.  1).,  speaks  at  the  Mont- 


pelier  celebration  of  Dewey's  victory,  390. 
Brownell,    Passed  Assistant  Surgeon  C.  D.,  of 

the  Petrel,  307. 

Browning,  C.  H.,  letter  of,  regarding  the  an 
cestry  of  George  Dewey,  441. 
Brumby,  Flag-Lieutenant  L.  M.,  of  Commodore 
Dewey's   squadron,  300;  highly  commended 
by  Commodore  Dewey,  252. 

Buchan,  second  Pkrl  of 445 

Bunce,    Rear-Admiral,   remarks  of,   regarding 
Admiral  Dewey,  404-406. 

Burgoyne,   Surrender  of 44 

Burke' s  "  Heraldry,"  description  of  the  Dewey 
arms  in,  453. 

Burlington,  X.  J 122 

—  Vermont 93 

Burt,  Naval  Cadet  Engineer  C.  P.,  of  the  Bal 
timore,  302. 

Burton,  Benjamin 93 

Butler,  Ensign  H.  Y.,  of  the  Olympia 300 

Byron,  Lord,  quoted 18 


Cadarso,  Captain  Luis,  of  the  Spanish  cruiser 
Jteina  Christina,  240;  with  Admiral  Montojo 
on  the  bridge  during  the  Battle  of  Manila 
Bay,  257,  258;  bravery  of,  257,  258;  heroic 
death  of,  258,  292;  Admiral  Dewey's  tribute 
to  the  bravery  of,  433. 

Cagayan  River,  Philippine  Islands 514 

Cairo,  Egypt,  visited  by  George  Dewey  in  1886, 

188.     ' 

Caldwell,  Captain,  of  the  Essex,  takes  off  sick 
and  wounded  from  the  disabled  Mississippi, 
179. 

—  Flag-Secretary  H.  H.,  of  the  Olympia, 
300;  volunteers  for  battery  service,  252;  com 
plimentary  mention  of,  by  Captain  Gridley, 
326. 

California,  State  of 399 

Calkins,  Lieutenant  C.  G.,  Navigator  of  the 
Olympia,  221,  300;  skill  and  judgment  of,  in 
handling  the  cruiser,  238 ;  successfully  leads 
the  American  squadron  into  Manila  Bay, 
without  lights  or  range  marks,  239;  takes 
the  Olympia  to  within  2,000  yards  of  the 


enemy,  226 ;  highly  commended  by  Commo 
dore  Dewey,  252. 

Cambridge.  Earl  of 444 

Canacao  Bay,  position  of  Spanish  squadron  in, 
247;  batteries  at,  silenced  by  the  Baltimore, 
342. 

—  Gulf  of,  Spanish  squadron  anchored  in, 
285,  367. 

Capet,  Hugh,  ancestor  of  George  Dewey  . .   443 
Caraga,   province  of,   Philippine   Islands,  min 
erals  in,  524. 

Carey,  Thomas,  trial  of,  on  the  W abash ...    147 
Carpenter,  Rear-Admiral  Charles  C 83 

—  Assistant  Surgeon  D.  N.,  of  the  Raleiyh, 
306. 

Carrier,  Rebecca,   ancestor  of   George  Dewey, 

448,  459. 

Camilla,  Spanish  cruiser,  225,  277,  285,  298; 
tonnage  and  guns  of,  240;  description  of, 
308;  complement  of,  308;  bad  condition  of, 
277,  278;  plan  to  protect  water-line  of,  285; 
position  of,  in  the  Spanish  line  at  the  Battle 
of  Manila  Bay,  219,  286;  spirited  resistance 
of,  292;  fired  by  American  shells,  and  aban 
doned  by  the  Spanish,  227,  292;  set  on  fire 
by  Americans  and  sunk,  335;  attempted  aid 
of,  by  the  Don  Juan  de  Austria,  295;  killed 
and  wounded  on,  292. 

Cavite,  Manila  Bay,  164,  198,  219,  251,  298,  376; 
anchorage  at,  517;  Spanish  squadron  discov 
ered  off,  247;  attack  on  Spanish  position  at, 
in  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  215;  explosion  of 
submarine  mines  near,  219;  Spanish  hoist 
white  flag  at,  335;  evacuation  of,  by  the 
Spanish,  252:  arsenal  at,  taken  possession  of 
by  Dewey,  252:  Filipinos  armed  from  the 
arsenal  at,  200,  201. 

Cavite  arsenal,  200,  219,  240,  273,  274:  Span 
ish  flag  hauled  down  on,  227,  244;  Spanish 
hoist  white  flag  on,  227,  244,  342. 
Cavite  Point,  shore  battery  at,  in  action. .  .   220 

Cebu,  Philippine  Islands 502,  517,  524,  530 

Cebus,  The 519 

Centurion,  The,  British  man-of-war 163 

Cereals,  general  neglect  of,  in  the  Philippines, 
529. 

Charlemagne 443,  446 

( 'harles,  Duke  of  Lorraine 443 

( 'hesapeake  Bay 115 

ChickatHur,  The,  United  States  war  vessel.   317 
Chidwick,  Ensign  F.  L.,  of  the  Rahirjh ...  306 
China,  War  of,  with  Japan,   83;  protection  of 
American    interests    in,    194;    remarks    of 
Dewey  on  American  interests  in,  418,  419. 
Chinese,  engagement  with  the  English  at  Pei-ho, 
83 ;  trade  of,  194 ;  bravery  of,  on  the  Boston, 
at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  337,  338. 
Christ's  Church,  MontpelSer,  Vt.,  where  George 
Dewey  was  christened,  24,  43. 


542 


GENERAL   INDEX 


Civil  War,  The,  84,  85;  George  Dewey  in, 
171-80. 

Claremont,  N.  H 9-3 

Clark,  Captain  Charles  E 100 

—  Joseph 455 

Clarkesville,  Tenn 424 

Coats-of-arms,  remarks  on 448 

Cocoa,  cultivation  of,  in  the  Philippines. . .   530 
Coft'ee,  cultivation  of,  in  the  Philippines. . .   529 
Coghlan,  Captain  Joseph   Bullock,  of  the  Ra- 

leiyh,  229,  306;  biographical  sketch  of,  316, 
317;  official  report  of,  regardingthe  Raleigh's 
share  in  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  345-348 ; 
congratulates  Dewey  on  his  great  victory, 
347,  348;  reception  of,  on  his  return  to  New 
York,  317. 

Cold  Spring,  N.  Y 318 

Collins,  Seaman,  of  the  Wabash 167 

Colorado,  United  States  steam  frigate,  18,  180, 

316,  490,  491,  497,  498. 
Colvocoresses,  Captain  George  M 84 

—  Lieutenant-Commander  G.  P.,  executive 
officer  of  the  Concord,  230,  306 ;  official  re 
port  of,  regarding  the   Concord's  share  in 
the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  366-70 ;  account 
of  the  battle  sent  to  Norwich   University, 
296;    highly    commended    by     Commander 
Walker,  365. 

Comyn,  Alexander  de,  second  Earl  of  Buchan, 
445,  447. 

—  Lady  Agnes 447 

—  Richard,  Baron,  Chief-Justice   of   Scot 
land,  447. 

Concord,  American  gunboat,  193;  description 
of,  306;  tonnage  and  guns  of,  230;  officers 
of,  306 ;  complement  of,  306 ;  sent  with  the 
Boston  to  reconnoitre  Subic  Bay,  235,  247 ; 
position  of,  in  the  American  line  at  the 
Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  216,  287;  returns  the 
fire  of  the  Spanish  battery  on  Corregidor 
Island,  216,  366,  367;  explodes  a  shell  ap 
parently  exactly  inside  the  battery,  216,  238 ; 
exchanges  shots  with  the  Spanish  shore 
battery  at  Manila,  219,  365;  shell  from, 
probably  first  set  on  fire  the  Reina  Christina, 
367 ;  fires  on  torpedo  boats  sent  to  attack  the 
Olmypia,  367;  destroys  a  Spanish  transport, 
365,  368;  withdraws,' 367;  resumes  the  at 
tack,  368 ;  signaled  to  enter  the  inner  harbor 
with  others  and  destroy  all  the  Spanish 
ships,  226,  227;  signaled  to  join  the  Petrel 
at  Cavito,  '369 ;  manoeuvres  of,  during  the 
battle,  367,  368;  effectiveness  of  fire  of, 
368 ;  official  reports  of  its  share  in  the  battle, 
362-70;  officers  and  men  of,  highly  praised 
by  Commander  Asa  Walker,  365,  366 ;  high 
praise  of  officers  and  men  of,  by  Lieutenant- 
Commander  Colvocoresses,  369,  370 ;  perfect 
condition  of  steam  department  of,  365 ;  am 


munition  expended  during  the  battle,  366; 
trifling  damage  to,  369;  sent  with  the  Ra 
leigh  to  counteract  German  influence  at  Isla 
Grande,  209;  assisted  by  the  Raleigh,  cap 
tures  Isla  Grande  and  takes  1,300  Spanish 
prisoners,  209. 

Cone,  Assistant  Engineer  H.  I.,  of  the  Balti 
more,  302. 

Congress,  first  message  to,  regarding  Dewey, 
375-379;  joint  resolution  of,  thanking  Dewey 
and  his  officers  and  men  for  the  victory  at 
Manila,  379,  380;  resolution  passed  by,  to 
revive  the  rank  of  Admiral  for  Dewey,  389. 

Connelly,  Gunner  L.  J.,  of  the  Baltimore, 
302. 

Consha,  Captain  J.  de  la,  of  the  Spanish  cruiser 
Don  Juan  de  Austria,  240. 

Constantine,  Grand  Duke  of  Russia,  tendered  a 
reception  on  the  Wabash  at  Genoa,  152. 
—  the  Great 443 

Constantinople,  visited  by  George  Dewey,  144; 
facsimile  extract  from  Dewey 's  log  book, 
written  at,  169;  Basil,  first  Emperor  of,  443. 

Constellation,  The,  United  States  practice-ship, 
314. 

Converse,  Commander  George  A 84 

Copenhagen 405 

Corbin,  Lieutenant,  of  the  Wabash 140 

Corregidor  Island,  near  Manila,  99,  373,  428; 
first  Spanish  shot  fired  from,  216,  237 ;  bat 
teries  open  fire  on  American  squadron,  321 ; 
explosion  of  Spanish  mines  near,  428 ;  safely 
passed  by  the  American  squadron,  216,  237, 
256;  Admiral  Montojo  warned  by  gun-fire 
from,  287;  batteries  on,  surrender  to  the 
Baltimore  and  the  Raleigh,  252. 

Cotton  not  a  leading  production  in  the  Philip 
pines,  529,  530. 

Crawford,  Assistant-Surgeon  M.  H.,  of  the 
Boston,  305. 

Cresey  family 449 

Cuyler,  The,  United  States  vessel. .          .  .   315 


Dagupan,  Philippine  Islands 517 

Dartmouth  College 91,  92 

Davidson,  Ensign  W.  C.,  of  the  Concord,  306; 

commanded  by  Commander  Walker,  365. 
Davis,  Mrs.  Jefferson,  letter  of,  regarding  the 

presentation  of   a  flag  to  Admiral  Dewey 

395,  396. 

Day,  Secretary  of  State  William  R 380 

De  Boer,  Professor  J.  A.,  speaker  at  Montpelier 

celebration  of  Dewey's  victory,  390. 

Decatur,  Admiral  Stephen 16 

Declaration  of  Independence,  reading  of,  on  the 

Wabash,  164. 
De  Lany,  Assistant   Engineer    E.    H.,  of    the 

Olympia,  301. 


GENERAL    INDEX 


543 


Del  Rio,  Spanish  captain  confers  with  Admiral 
Montojo,  278;  ordered  to  concentrate  forces 
and  burn  stores  and  coal,  285. 

Department  of  State 380 

Depew,  Chauncey  M 410 

Demeritt,  Reverend  John  P.,  37;   his  recollec 
tions  of  George  Dewey,  67,  08. 
Dewey,  Adelbert  M 466 

—  Hon.  Albert  Gallatin 471 

—  Alfred  Timothy 472 

—  Judge  Almon  Ralph 471 

—  Anna 456 

-Hon.  Charles,  202,  390,  412;  sketch  of 

life  of,  460-462;  becomes  trustee  of  Norwich 
University,  94;  letter  of  George  Dewey  to, 
426,  427;  letter  to,  from  George  Dewey,  435- 
438;  notifies  George  Dewey  of  resolutions 
passed  at  Montpelier,  391. 

—  Chauncey 472 

—  Hon.    David 470 

—  Day  exercises  in  New  York  city.  .   460 
Captain   Edward,    24,    390;    sketch   of, 


462;  letter  of  George  Dewey  to,  425. 

Edward   Wilkins,    discovery  of,   in  the 


British  Museum,  450. 
Captain  Elijah 


44,  470 

—  family,  The,    origin   of   name  of,   454 ; 
arms  of,  450;  motto   and  crest  of,  450;  in 
Kent,  England,  454;  in  Bucks  County,  450; 
in  Norfolk  County,  453;  characteristics  of, 
44. 

—  George,  Admiral  U.  S.  N.,  parents  of,  47 ; 
birth  and  childhood  of,  39-60;  ante-natal  in 
fluences    surrounding,   39-43;    marriage    of 
parents  of.  53 ;    early  maternal   influences, 
49 ;    early  paternal  influences,  49 ;   house  in 
which     he    was     born,     24;     ancestors    of, 
44,   47;   ancestors  of,  in   the   Revolutionary 
War,  44;  christening  of,  43;  confirmation  of, 
49 ;  probable  influence  of  a  song  on  the  life 
of,  57;  a  sister's  tribute  to,  59;  boyhood  of, 
61-78 ;  school  days  of,  67-77 ;  boyish  pranks 
of,    65-77;    his   love    of    adventure,    65-67; 
his  desire  to  go  to  sea,  64;  first  cruise  of, 
62;    schoolmates   of,  at  Montpelier,    67-71; 
altercation  of,  with  John  P.   Demerrit,  37; 
his  friendship  for  the  teacher  who  conquered 
him,  75;  always  a  leader  in  youthful  sports, 
77;  formation  of  character  of,  54-60;   pre 
paratory    schooling    of,    at    Johnson    (Ver 
mont)    Academy,   94;    becomes   a  cadet    at 
Norwich   University,    94;    intended   by   his 
father  for  the  army,  64 ;  school  days  at  Nor 
wich  University,  94-99 ;  remarks  of  a  fellow- 
cadet  regarding,  94-97;  preparation  of,  for 
West   Point,  77;    his   final   appointment  to 
Annapolis,  78;   notification  of  appointment 
of,  to  Annapolis,  97;   life  of,  at  the  Naval 
Academy,  101-122;  first   year's   studies   of, 


105,  106 ;  aptness  of,  in  the  study  of  French, 
106 ;  punctuality  and  neatness  of,  107 ;  fond 
ness  of,  for  books,  107,  108;  ambition  of,  to 
excel,  108 ;  daily  routine  at  Annapolis,  108, 
111,  112;  entered  the  Naval  Academy  at  a 
critical  period  in  national  history,  118-121 ; 
his  frequent  discussions  with  cadets  from  the 
South,  121;  is  challenged  to  fight  a  duel, 
122;  his  class-standing,  101-105,  125,  171; 
studies  of,duringthe  second, third,  and  fourth 
years,  116,  117 ;  is  graduated  from  the  Naval 
Academy,  125;  goes  to  sea  as  midshipman 
on  the  Wabash,  128;  first  shows  his  colors  to 
the  Spanish,  131 ;  lands  at  Gibraltar,  131 ;  the 
Wabash  placed  in  quarantine,  131;  salutes 
the  English  flag,  131 ;  touches  at  Marseilles, 
136 ;  arrives  at  Genoa,  139 ;  drops  anchor  off 
Messina,  140;  arrives  at  Smyrna,  140;  visits 
Constantinople,  144;  visits  Beyrout  and 
Jaffa,  147 ;  touches  at  Alexandria,  148 ;  par 
ticipates  in  a  salutation  to  the  English  Vice- 
Admiral  at  Valetta,  148,  151;  assists  in  a  re 
ception  to  the  Grand  Duke  Constantine  of 
Russia,  at  Genoa,  152;  visits  Leghorn,  156, 
160 ;  lesson  taught  by  the  Collins  incident  at 
Spezia,  167,  168;  starts  for  home  after  an 
eighteen  months'  cruise,  168;  extracts  in 
fac-simile  from  log  book  of,  128,  132,  143; 
log  book  of,  examined  by  Captain  Barron  of 
the  Wabash,  168;  ordered  back  to  Annapolis 
for  examination,  171 ;  commissioned  a  lieu 
tenant  in  the  Navy,  171;  career  of,  in  the 
Civil  War,  171-80;  serves  on  the  Missis- 
tippi  from  1861  to  1863,  171 ;  takes  part  in  the 
capture  of  Port  Royal  and  New  Orleans,  171 ; 
spikes  the  guns  and  sets  fire  to  the  Missis- 
sij>pi,  172;  with  Captain  Melancthon  Smith, 
the  last  to  leave  the  burning  steamer,  172, 
179;  saves  the  life  of  a  disabled  seaman,  who 
had  jumped  overboard  from  the  burning 
Mississippi,  172,  175  ;  his  own  story  of  the 
Mississippi  incident,  175-180;  career  of,  in 
time  of  peace,  180-193 ;  ordered  to  the  gun 
boat  Agawam,  180:  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
lieutenant-commander  (1865),  180;  becomes 
executive  officer  of  the  Kearsarge,  180; 
stationed  at  Kittery  Navy  Yard  (1867),  180; 
marriage  of,  to  Susie  B.  Goodwin,  180,  184; 
serves  on  the  frigate  Colorado,  180;  detailed 
for  duty  at  Annapolis  (1868),  180;  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  Narragansett  (1870), 
180;  commissioned  as  commander  (1872),  180; 
son  born  to,  184;  death  of  wife  of  (1872),  184; 
serves  on  the  Pacific  Survey  (1872-75),  184; 
becomes  lighthouse  inspector  (1876),  184;  be 
comes  secretary  to  the  Lighthouse  Board 
(1877-82), 184;  takes  command  of  the  Jimiata 
of  the  Asiatic  squadron  (1882),  184;  illness 
of,  at  Malta  (1883),  187;  letter  to  his  sister 


544 


GENERAL   INDEX 


regarding  illness,  187;  promoted  to  a  cap- 
taincy,  188;  takes  command  of  the  Dolphin, 
188: 'in  command  of  the  Pensacola,  188; 
makes  a  second  cruise  in  the  Mediterranean, 
188:  letter  to  his  sister  regarding  his  second 
Mediterranean  cruise,  188;  visits  Cairo,  Jeru 
salem,  Beyrout,  Ephesus,  and  Athens,  188; 
detailed  as  chief  of  the  Bureau  of  Equipment 
and  Recruiting  (1888),  188;  again  becomes 
member  of  the  Lighthouse  Board  (1893-95), 
188 :  transferred  to  the  Board  of  Inspection 
and  Survey,  188;  becomes  president  of  the 
Board  of  Inspection  and  Survey  (1896), 
188;  receives  his  commission  as  commodore 
(1890),  188;  urged  by  his  friends  to  take  a 
cruise  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  192;  op 
position  in  Washington  to  his  assignment 
to  the  Asiatic  squadron,  192;  assigned  to 
command  of  the  Asiatic  squadron  (1897), 
1!»2,  19-3;  reception  of,  at  Yokohama,  193; 
assumes  command  of  the  Asiatic  squadron, 
193;  raises  his  pennant  over  the  flagship 
UlyiHjfia,  193;  accorded  a  private  inter 
view  by  the  Emperor  and  Empress  of  Japan, 
193 ;  letter  to  his  sister  from  Yokohama,  193, 
1!»4:  entertains  on  board  the  flagship,  193, 

194,  420,  421;  his  description  of  a  "tiffin" 
on  board  the  Olympia,  194;  on  the  protection 
of  American  interests  in  China,  194;  esti 
mate    of    English    and    Russian    Admirals 
commanding    in   Asiatic   waters,   194,   419; 
comments  on  the    increased  naval  force  of 
England,    Russia,    and     Germany    in     the 
Orient,  193,  194;  concentrates  his  squadron 
and    awaits    developments    at    Hong-Kong, 

195,  229:  hears  at  Hong-Kong  of  the  de 
struction    of    the    battleship    Maine,    195; 
preparations  of,  for  the  blow  against  Spanish 
power  in  the  East,  19(5-200 ;  predicts  the  fall 
of  Spanish  power  in  the  Philippines,  197, 
198:    extracts   from    a  letter  to  his    sister 
shortly  prior  to  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay, 
197, 198 ;  reply  of,  to  Prince  Henry  of  Prussia 
with  reference  to  prospective  interference  of 
the  latter  in  the  Philippines,  200;  letter  to 
his  sister  after  receiving  orders  to  capture  or 
destroy  the  Spanish  fleet,  198:  his  diplomatic 
dealings  with  the   Filipinos,  201,  202;   re 
ceives    precautionary    dispatches    from   the 
Navy  Department,  203-206;  ordered  to  re 
tain   crew  whose  terms  of  enlistment  had 
expired,  203;  general  order  to,  with  refer 
ence  to  the  Spanish  squadron  and  the  Philip 
pines,  204;    ordered  by  Secretary  Long  to 
"keep  full   of  coal   and  provisions,"   204; 
purchases  merchant  steamer  with  3,000  tons 
of  coal,  205;  purchases  arms,  and  equips  a 
vessel  tor  supplies,  205 ;  ordered  to  land  all 
woodwork  and  stores  not   absolutely  neces 


sary,  206 ;  notified  that  war  with  Spain  had 
begun,  206;  receives  by  cable  the  President's 
proclamation  declaring  war,  206,  207 ;  ordered 
bv  Secretary  Long  to  capture  or  destroy  the 
Spanish  fleet,  206;  requested  by  the  Gov 
ernor  of  Hong-Kong  to  leave  the  harbor, 
200;  takes  his  squadron  to  Mirs  Bay,  206, 
23.1,  255;  cabled  from  Washington  to  pro 
ceed  to  the  Philippines,  375,  376;  orders 
squadron  to  start  for  the  Philippines,  209 ; 
holds  war  council  on  the  Olymj)i«,  236;  plan 
to  enter  Manila  Bay  at  night,  236 ;  his  official 
account  of  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  247, 
271;  another  account  by  him  of  the  battle, 
255,  256;  his  modest  dispatches  after  the 
battle,  208 ;  declined  to  engage  shore  batteries 
at  Manila,  thus  sparing  the  inhabitants  of  the 
city,  219 ;  order  of,  to  begin  the  action,  221 ; 
order  of,  to  open  with  all  guns,  225;  directs 
battle  from  the  roof  of  pilot-house,  261;  nar 
row  escape  from  a  Spanish  shell,  222;  frus 
trates  an  attempt  of  Spanish  gunboats  to 
destroy  his  supply  ships,  261;  repulses  a 
Spanish  torpedo-boat  sent  to  attack  the 
Olympic,  321 ;  takes  his  squadron  out  of 
range  to  give  his  men  breakfast,  226 ;  warns 
the  Spanish  Governor  against  firing  from 
shore  batteries  at  Manila,  244,  248;  signals 
to  resume  action,  226:  orders  the  Raleiyh, 
Boston,  Concord,  and  Petrel  to  enter  inner 
harbor  and  destroy  all  of  the  Spanish  ships  yet 
afloat,  226, 227 ;  takes  possession  of  the  arsenal 
at  Cavite,  245,  252 ;  policy  of,  after  the  battle, 
403;  request  of,  not  to  be  ordered  home,  211 ; 
buries  Spanish  dead,  and  transfers  wounded 
to  Manila,  245,  376 ;  establishes  hospitals,  376 ; 
extols  the  conduct  of  his  personal  staff,  252; 
general  tribute  to  his  officers  and  men,  212; 
highly  commends  his  captains,  251;  recom 
mends  that  his  commanders  be  advanced  ten 
numbers  each,  208;  personally  commends 
Captain  Frank  Wildes,  Assistant  Surgeon 
Kindleberger,  Gunner  J.  C.  Evans,  Com 
mander  B.  P.  Lamberton,  Flag-Lieutenant 
Brumby,  Ensign  W.  P.  Scott,  Ensign  H.  H. 
Caldwell,  J.  L.  Stickney,  and  Lieutenant  C. 
G.  Calkins,  251,  252;  praises  the  valor  of  the 
Spanish, 256 ;  fighting  force  of,  299,  307;  mag 
nitude  of  victory  of,  376;  position  of,  with 
reference  to  other  nations  after  the  battle, 
198,  199 ;  confidence  of  the  Government  at 
Washington  in,  209;  requested  by  the  Gov 
ernment  to  send  his  general  views  on  Philip 
pine  questions,  211;  confidence  of,  in  the 
honor  and  integrity  of  Aguinaldo,  208,  209 ; 
sends  the  Raleigh  and  Concord  to  check  the 
Germans  at  Isla  Grande,  209 ;  receives  a  com 
munication  from  Aguinaldo  announcing  an 
independent  Filipino  government,  210;  for- 


GENERAL    INDEX 


545 


wards  the  Filipino  proclamations  to  the  Gov 
ernment  at  Washington, 210;  co-operates  with 
General  Merritt  in  operations  against  the 
Spanish,  210;  fleet  of,  assists  materially  in 
the  operations  against  Manila,  211;  reflec 
tions  of,  after  the  fall  of  Manila,  211,  212; 
remarks  of,  on  the  lessons  taught  by  the  vic 
tory  at  Manila  Bay,  205,  206;  on  Spanish  war- 
material  as  compared  with  American,  200; 
on  the  value  of  high-grade  men  in  the  Navy, 
205,  200;  on  guns  and  gunnery,  205;  on  the 
climate  of  Manila  and  the  health  of  his 
officers  and  men  there,  212;  is  urged  by 
friends  to  return  to  the  United  States,  and 
his  wish  not  to  do  so,  211;  hopes  that 
the  Filipino  insurrection  would  disinte 
grate,  430,  437 ;  career  of  and  prospects  of  high 
honors  at  the  hands  of  his  countrymen, 
213 ;  public  call  for  recognition  of,  375 ;  first 
message  to  Congress  regarding,  375-379; 
thanks  of  Congress  to,  recommended  by 
President  McKinley,  379;  description  of 
sword  presented  to,  384-386;  appointed  Act 
ing  Rear-Admiral  by  the  President,  379; 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Rear-Admiral,  208, 
380 ;  congratulated  by  President  McKinley 
and  Secretary  Long,  390;  resolutions  of  Con 
gress  in  honor  of,  379,  380;  grade  of  Admiral 
revived  for,  380,  389 ;  nominated  by  the 
President  to  be  Admiral  of  the  Navy,  389 ; 
confirmation  of,  by  the  Senate,  389 ;  com 
mission  as  Admiral  signed  by  the  President 
and  Secretary  Long,  389;  cabled  of  his  ap 
pointment  and  directed  to  hoist  his  flag  and 
select  his  uniform,  389,  390;  becomes  the 
ranking  officer  in  the  United  States  Army 
and  Navy,  390;  anniversary  of  victory  cele 
brated  at  Montpelier,  390,  391;  complimen 
tary  resolutions  by  the  Vermont  legislature, 
391,392;  presentation  of  silk  flags  to,  392, 
393;  receives  degrees  and  medals,  400,  401; 
honored  by  colleges  and  learned  societies, 
400,  401 ;  proposed  monument  to,  at  Mont 
pelier,  402;  commended  by  his  associates, 
404-409;  preservation  of  the  correspondence 
of,  20;  letter  of,  regarding  his  assignment 
to  the  Asiatic  association,  411;  letter  of,  to 
Alderman  Hibbard  of  Boston,  about  "  Dewey 
Square,"  411,  412;  letter  of,  to  his  brother, 
regarding  public  appreciation  of  the  vic 
tory  at  Manila  Bay,  413;  letter  of  condol 
ence  to  Mrs.  Noss,  the  wife  of  a  soldier 
killed  at  Malate,  413,  422;  letter  from 
Manila  to  his  sister  at  Montpelier,  414, 
421;  remarks  of,  about  his  son,  George 
Goodwin  Dewey,  420;  letter  of,  to  a  little  girl, 
423 ;  letter  of,  to  Confederate  veterans,  423, 
424:  letter  regarding  Dewey  Hall  at  Nor 
wich  University,  99,  100;  proposed  as  a 


presidential  candidate,  424;  answer  of,  to 
proposal,  420 ;  letter  of,  to  his  brother  Edward 
at  Montpelier,  425 ;  letter  of,  to  his  brother 
Charles,  420,  427 ;  letter  of,  to  the  aged  mother 
of  Captain  Gridley,  427,  428;  to  a  comrade 
in  the  Navy  regarding  the  Battle  of -Manila 
Bay,  428,  433 ;  brief  sketch  of  career  of,  with 
dates,  433,  434;  kindred  of,  434;  anecdotes 
of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  P.  Greeley,  regard 
ing,  434,  439,  440;  letter  to  his  brother,  435, 
438;  preference  of,  to  be  Admiral  rather 
than  President,  437,  438;  royal  ancestry  of, 
441,  454;  descended  from  the  royal  families 
of  England,  Prussia,  France,  and  Italy,  456; 
descended  from  historic  warriors,  443 ;  anec 
dotes  of,  486-500 ;  claimed  by  seven  nations, 
480-490;  as  a  Scotchman,  480,  487;  as  an 
Irishman,  487;  as  a  Swede,  488;  as  a  Ger 
man,  488,  489:  as  a  Frenchman,  489;  as 
an  Italian,  489,  490;  as  a  Russian,  490; 
brief  statement  of  the  pedigree  of,  440-448; 
brief  sketch  of  the  life  of,  403 ;  interesting 
stories  of,  by  his  naval  associates,  497,  498; 
anecdote  of,  from  the  San  Francisco  Ex 
aminer,  490-494;  pathetic  incident  at  Manila, 
499,  500;  characteristics  of,  403,  404;  his  re 
serve  and  silence,19;  remarkableperceptibility 
of,  498,  499 ;  his  quickness  of  decision,  66,  67 ; 
preparedness  of,  197 ;  tact  of,  as  a  diplomat  and 
administrator,  403,  404;  a  harmless  supersti 
tion  of,  499 ;  social  disposition  of,  500 ;  popu 
larity  of,  in  social  life,  500 ;  business  skill  of, 
205 ;  cool  bravery  and  efficiency  of,  272 ;  his 
patience  and  decision,  403 ;  a  strict  disciplin 
arian,  190;  an  exacting  but  considerate  com 
mander,  190;  kindness  to  his  men,  497,  498; 
always  on  the  alert  to  see  that  his  men  were 
well  provided  for,  209;  his  abhorrence  of 
lying,  494-490;  his  characteristics  with  ref 
erence  to  carrying  out  instructions,  190 ;  his 
attitude  of  protection  toward  women,  122- 
124 ;  more  highly  honored  than  any  American 
except  General  Grant,  400;  character  of 
fame  of,  17-19;  name  stands  with  Nelson, 
Farragut,  and  Decatur,  16;  his  fame  simply 
a  revelation,  19;  exemption  from  jealousy 
and  enmity,  18;  merits  the  universal  ap 
proval  of  his  countrymen,  15. 
Dewey,  George  Goodwin,  son  of  Admiral  Dewey, 
birth  of,  184,  419,  420. 

—  Hall,    Norwich   University,   description 
of,  100;  ceremonies  at  the  dedication  of,  100 

-Hon.  Hiram 471 

—  Hiram  Todd 472 

—  Major  Israel  Otis 471 

—  Israel,  sketch  of 456 

—  Professor  James  R 472 

—  Rev.  Jedediah,  44;  sketch  of 456 

Gen.  Joel  A . .  . .  471 


546 


GENERAL   INDEX 


Dewey,  Hon.  Dr.  John 

—  Professor  John 473 

—  Captain  John  W 473 

—  Josiah,  ancestor  of  George  Dewey,  446, 
447,  44!). 

—  Josiah,  sketch  of 455,  456 

—  Josiah,  Jr 448 

—  Julius  Yemans,  father  of  George  Dewey, 
24,  40,  43;   home  of,  40,  43;  character  of, 
47-49;  professional  life  of,  47,  48;  becomes 
trustee  of  Norwich  University,  94. 

—  Louis  Marinus 473 

Mary  Perrin,  mother  of  George  Dewey, 


sketch  of,  463;  character  of,  49,  50. 

—  Professor  Melvil 

—  Governor  Nelson 

—  Kev.  Dr.  Orville 

—  Orville  C 

—  Captain  Samuel  W 

—  Rev.  Sanger 

—  Sherman 

—  Simeon 

j Simeon 

—  Captain  Simeon 

—  Ensign  Simeon 

—  Simeon,  coat  of  arms  of 


471 
471 
472 
472 
471 
472 
453 
448 
459 
459 
44 
454 

—  sword,  finest  ever  presented  by  the  gov 
ernment  to  any  officer  in  the  Army  or  Navy, 
386. 

—  Lieutenant  Theodore  Gibbs,  sketch  of, 


468. 

—  Thomas,  direct  lineal  ancestor  of  George 
Dewey,  44,  446,  454,  455. 

—  Thomas,  the  second 455 

-  William,  448;  sketch  of 459 

—  Captain  William 47 

—  Lieutenant  William  Tarbox,  sketch  of, 
467. 

—  William,  the  second,  sketch  of. ...   459 

—  Rev.  Willis  C 471 

Diana,  Temple  of,  at  Ephesus,  visited  by  George 

Dewey,  188. 
Dim-in  de  Manila,  account  of  Battle  of  Manila 

Bay  in,  296-298. 
Dictator,  The,  United  States  ironclad .  .313,  318 

Dieteric,    King 442 

Dobrogera,  wife  of  King  Dieteric 442 

Dodge,  Maj.-Gen.  Grenville  M.,  his  services  at 

Atlanta,  85. 
Doddridge,  Ensign  J.  S.,  of  the  Boston,  305; 

Spanish  shell  bursts  in  the  stateroom  of,  at 

the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  225. 
Dolphin,  dispatch  boat,  commanded  by  George 

Dewey,  188. 

Donalbane,  King  of  Scots 445,  447 

Don  Antonio  de   Ulloa,  219;   description' and 

crew  of.  309;    tonnage   and   guns  of,   240; 

position  of,  in  the  Spanish  line  at  the  Battle 

of  Manila  Bay,  286 ;   heroic  fight  and  stub 


born  resistance  of,  258,  262,  292;  alone 
returns  American  fire  in  the  second  engage 
ment,  322;  attacked  by  the  Baltimore,  342; 
struck  by  American  shell  and  goes  down 
with  all  her  crew  behind  Sangley  Point, 
227,  258,  292,  368. 

Don  Juan  de  Austria,  219,  277,  285;  descrip 
tion  and  crew  of,  308,  309;  tonnage  and 
guns  of,  240 ;  position  of,  in  the  Spanish  line 
at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  286;  goes  to 
the  aid  of  the  Castilla,  295;  fired  by  Ameri 
can  shells,  295 ;  explosion  of  the  magazines 
of,  355 ;  destruction  of,  completed  by  Lieu 
tenant  Hughes  of  the  Petrel,  227,  362. 

Dorchester,  Mass 454,  455 

Drake,  Abigail 456 

Drayton,  captain  of  the  Hartford 428 

Dublin,  Trinity  College  at 86 

Dunn,  Assistant  Engineer  E.  H.,  of  the  Con 
cord,  306. 
Duttori,   Lieutenant  of  Marines,  R.  McM.,  of 

the  Boston,  305. 

Dyer,  Captain  Nehemiah  Mayo,  of  the  Balti 
more,  302;  biographical  sketch  of,  314-316; 
promoted  for  gallant  conduct,  315;  offi 
cially  commended  for  saving  the  life  of  a 
sailor,  316;  official  report  of  the  Baltimore's 
share  in  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  338-343. 


El  Correo,  Spanish  gunboat,  219;  description 
and  crew  of,  310;  set  on  fire  and  destroyed 
by  Lieutenant  Hughes,  of  the  Petrel,  251, 
362. 

El  Fraile,  shore  battery  at,  opens  on  American 
squadron,  346,  348/366,  367;  fire  of  battery 
on,  answered  by  the  Raleigh,  Concord,  and 
Boston,  351. 

Ellicott,  Lieutenant  J.  M.,  of  the  Baltimore, 
302. 

Emperor  of  Japan  accords  a  private  audience  to 
Commodore  Dewey,  193. 

Enchanted  Lake,  The,  Philippine  Islands. .   514 

Engard,  Chief  Engineer  A.  C.,  of  the  Balti 
more,  302. 

England,  193;  Heralds  of,  445;  grant  of  manors 
in,  to  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  444;  naval 
force  of,  in  Asiatic  waters  on  Commodore 
Dewey's  arrival  at  Hong-Kong  in  1898,  419. 

English,  Engineer  of  the  Wabash 167 

—  engagement  with  the  Chinese  at  Pei-ho, 
83. 

Entwistle,  Chief  Engineer  J.,  of  the  Olympia, 
301. 

Ephesus,  visited  by  Dewey  in  1886 188 

Esmeralda,  The,  British  steamer 330 

Essex,  The,  United  States  man-of-war,  at  Port 
Hudson,  176,  179. 

Euyenia,  The,  United  States  vessel 315 


GENERAL  INDEX 


547 


Evans,  Gunner  J.  C.,  of  the  Boston,  305;  volun 
teers  to  remain  with  Dewey  after  orders  de 
taching  him  had  arrived,  252. 

Everhart,  Ensign  L.  H.,  of  the  Boston 305 


Fairbanks,  Governor  of  Vermont 87 

Fame,  remarks  on,  175;  of  George  Dewey,  re 
marks  on,  16,  17. 

Farragut,  Admiral  David  Glasgow,  16, 176,  219, 
315,  317,  396,  408,  428. 

Farrand,  Confederate  Commodore 315 

Fawn,  The,  English  brig 131 

Fay,  Cyrus  H 85 

Fermier,  Ensign  G.  L.,  of  the  Petrel,  307,  359; 
fires  Spanish  ships  in  the  inner  harbor  at  the 
Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  355. 
Filipinos,  The,  200;  position  of,  prior  to  and 
after  Dewey' s  victory,  200-203;  success  of, 
in  their  operations  against  the  Spanish,  201; 
organize  a  provisional  government  and  de 
mand  recognition  from  the  United  States, 
201 ;  cause  of  the  war  of,  with  the  United 
States,  202. 

Fiske,  Lieutenant  B.  A.,  of  the  Petrel,  307, 
352 ;  work  of,  in  fixing  range  and  reporting 
fall  of  shots  at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay, 
359;  brings  off  Spanish  tugboats  Rapido 
and  Hercules,  355. 

Fitzwalter,  leader  of  the  insurrectionary  barons, 
445. 

Fleet,  Spanish 44 

Fletcher,  Engineer  of  the  Wabash 167 

Florida,  State  of 188 

Fontene,  Marine-Captain  of  the  Mississippi  176 

Ford,  Thomas 447 

Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  George  Dewey  participates 
in  the  attack  on,  180. 

Fort  Morgan,  Ala 317 

Fort  Ticonderoga.     See  TICONDEROGA. 

France,  Henry  I.,  King  of 446 

Francis  Saltus,  excursion  steamer 93 

Francis,  master's  mate  of  the  Mississippi.  .    176 
Franklin,  The,  United  States  frigate 317 


Galloway,  Alan,  Lord  of 447 

—  Lady  Helen  of 447 

Garces,  Spanish  colonel  of  naval  artillery,  com 
mended  by  Admiral  Montojo,  281. 

Gardwell,  John,  letter  of  Admiral  Dewey  to 
little  daughter  of,  422,  423. 

Geberga,  daughter  of  Louis  IV.,  of  France, 
446. 

General  Lezo,  Spanish  gunboat,  219,  286:  de 
scription  and  crew  of,  310;  tonnage  and 
guns  of,  240;  burned  by  Lieutenant  Hughes 
of  the  Petrel,  362. 


Genoa,  Italy,  visited  by  George  Dewey,  139; 
extract  from  George  Dewey's  log  book 
written  at,  159;  reception  at,  to  Grand 
Duke  Constantine  of  Russia,  148;  cele 
bration  of  Washington's  birthday  at  (1859), 
156. 

Georgia 398 

German  interference   in  the  Philippines,  209, 

404. 

Germany,  193 ;  general  attitude  of,  with  refer 
ence  to  Spain,  199;  attitude  of  her  naval 
officers  in  Philippine  waters,  205 ;  attempted 
interference  of,  with  the  operations  of  the 
Filipinos  against  the  Spaniards  at  Isla 
Grande,  209. 

Germany,  Prince  Henry  of,  farewell  call  of, 
upon  Commodore  Dewey  at  Hong-Kong, 
199;  remark  of,  on  that  occasion,  and  the 
Commodore's  reply,  200. 

Gibbon,  Edward,  historian 443 

Gibraltar,  Harbor  of,  visited  by  George  Dewey, 
131. 

Gibson,  Lieutenant  J.,  of  the  Boston 305 

Gilbert,  Baron  d'  Umfraviile 445,  447 

Gillies,  Rev.  Andrew,  speaker  at  the  Mont- 
pelier  celebration  of  Dewey's  victory,  390. 

Girard   family 450 

—  William 447 

Goldsborough,  Admiral 490-494 

Goodwin,  Ichabod,  War  Governor  of  Xew 
Hampshire,  180,  183,  184;  fits  out  a  regi 
ment  at  his  own  expense,  183. 
Goodwin,  Susie  B.,  448,  463;  becomes  the  wife 
of  George  Dewey,  180 ;  confirmation  of,  49 ; 
death  of,  184. 

Gordon,  Mrs.  John  B.,  395;  letter  of,  regarding 
the  presentation  of  a  flag  to  Admiral  Dewey, 
397. 

"  Governor  Goodwin  "  locomotive. 184 

Grady,  Mrs.  Julia  King,  395  ;  letter  of,  regard 
ing  the  presentation  of  a  flag  to  Admiral 
Dewey,  397-398. 

Grant,  Julia  Dent,  392 ;  letter  of,  regarding  the 
presentation  of   a  flag  to  Admiral  Dewey, 
395. 
Great  Britain,  dependence  of,  upon  her  navy, 

16. 
Greeley,    Dr.    George  Preston,   sketch  of,  464- 

467. 

Greeley,  Mary  P.,  sketch  of,  463;  anecdotes  of. 
regarding  her  brother,  George  Dewey,  434, 
439,  440^ 

Green  Mountain  Boys 32 

Green  Mountain  State 36,  121 

Green  Mountains,  The 23,  43 

Greek  Islands,  The,  visited  by  Dewey  in  1886, 

188. 

Gridley,  Captain  Charles  Vernon,  of  the 
Olympia,  199,  221,  229,  232;  biographical 


548 


GENERAL  INDEX 


sketch  of,  314;  official  statement  of,  regard 
ing  the  Olympics  share  in  the  Battle 
of~Manila  Bay,  3-20-329;  general  praise  of 
officers  and  crew  by,  326;  death  of,  314; 
letter  to  mother  of,  from  Admiral  Dewey, 
427,  4-28. 

Grout,  Governor  of  Vermont 391 

Guerra,  Commander  S.  Morena,  of  the  Spanish 
dispatch  boat  Marques  del  Duero,  240. 

Guerriere,  The,  United  States  steam  frigate, 
316. 

Guns,  importance  of  quality  of,  265 ;  great  ef 
fectiveness  of  American,  267. 

Gunnery,  importance  of,  265;  value  of  constant 
practice  in,  265. 

H 

Hale,  Hon.  Eugene  B.,  of  Maine,  resolution  of, 
increasing  the  number  of  rear-admirals,  380. 

Halifax,  X.'S 131 

Hall,  Passed  Assistant  Engineer  R.  T.,  of  the 
Petrel,  307;  high  credit  given  to,  by  Com 
mander  Wood,  359,  360. 

Halstead,  Passed  Assistant  A.  S.,  of  the  Ra 
leigh,  306. 

"  Hannibal  Crossing  the  Alps  " 439 

Hartford,  Conn 446 

Hartwaker,  Prince,  son  of  King  Hengst.  .  .   442 
Havana  harbor,  396;  destruction  of  the  Maine 
in.  195. 

Hawes,  Ann 455 

—  Constant 455 

-  Richard 455 

Hayward,  Ensign  G.  H.,  of  the  Baltimore.  302 
Heap,  Passed  Assistant  Paymaster  S.  R.,  of  the 
Raleiyh,  306. 

Heaton  Hospital,  Montpelier,  Vt 28 

Heiseler,   Passed  Assistant   Surgeon   F.  A.,  of 

the  Baltimore,  302. 

Helena,  United  States  gunboat,  position  of,  in 

the  line  as  reported  by  Admiral  Montojo,  287. 

Henderson,  Brevet  Brigadier-General.  . . .     156 

Hentrst,    Saxon   freebooter  and    first  King  of 

Kent,  442,  443. 

Henry  I ,  of  France 443,  444 

"  Heraldry,"  Burke' s,  description  of  the  Dewey 
arms  in,  453. 

Herbert  I.,  Count  de  Vermandois 446 

-  II.,  Count  de  Vermandois 446 

—  III.,  Count  de  Vermandois 446 

—  IV:,  Count  de  Vermandois 446 

Hercules,  The,  Spanish  tugboat,  brought  off  by 

Lieutenant  Fiske,  of  the  Petrel,  355;  turned 

over  to  the  flagship,  362. 
Herian,  Captain  J.  de  le,  of  the  Spanish  cruiser 

Isla  de  Luzon,  240. 

Hero,  The,  remarks  on 17 

Hexilda,  Lady,  wife  of  Baron  Comyn.  . . '.  .   447 
Hibbard,  Alderman  W.  W.,  receives   a  letter 


from  Admiral  Dewey  about  "Dewey 
Square,"  Boston,  411,  412. 

Highland  Lights 168 

Hilton,  Carpenter  I.  H.,  of  the  Boston.  . .  .   305 

Hobart  College 86 

Hodgsdon,  Captain  David  B.,  of  the  Hugh  Mc~ 
Culloch,  230;  biographical  sketch  of,  319; 
official  report  of,  on  the  Battle  of  Manila, 
329,  330. 

Holyoke  family,  prominence  of,  in  Massachu 
setts,  50,  53. 

Hong-Kong,  China,  193,  195,  199,  204,  212, 
427;  concentration  of  American  Asiatic 
squadron  at,  195,  229;  plans  for  Battle  of 
Manila  made  at,  255;  governor  of,  requests 
Commodore  Dewey  to  leave  the  harbor,  206, 
231 ;  cable  to,  cut  by  the  Zajiro,  244. 

Horsa,  Saxon  freebooter 442 

Hourigan,  Lieutenant  P.  W.,  of  the  Concord, 
306 ;  commended  by  Commander  Walker, 
365. 

House  of  Representatives,  reception  by,  of  the 
President's  message  regarding  Dewey's  vic 
tory,  379. 

Howard,  Lieutenant  T.  B.,  of  the  Concord,  306; 
highly  praised  by  Commander  Walker,  365. 

—  Lieutenant  W.  L.,  of  the  Boston..  .   305 
Rowland,  State's   Attorney   F.  A.,  speaker   at 

Montpelier  celebration  of  Dewey's  victory, 
391. 

Hugh,  the  Great,  Duke  of  Burgundy.   444,  446 

Hughes,  Lieutenant  E.  M.,  executive  officer  of 
the  Petrel,  230,  307;  goes  in  a  whaleboat 
and  fires  Spanish  ships  in  the  inner  harbor 
at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  227,  352,  355, 
362 ;  gallantry  of,  particularly  commended  by 
Commander  Wood,  359 ;  official  report  of, 
regarding  the  Petrel's  share  in  the  battle, 
360-2. 

Hugh  Me  Culloch,  The,  United  States  revenue 
cutter,  319,  376 ;  joins  Dewey's  squadron  as  a 
dispatch  boat,  230;  preparations  on  board  of, 
329 ;  leading  vessel  in  the  reserve  squadron, 
329 ;  returns  fire  of  Spanish  battery  on  Cor- 
regidor  Island,  247 ;  signaled  by  the  Olympia 
to  take  safer  position  in  passing  Corregidor 
Island,  237 ;  intercepts  British  mail  steamer 
Esmeralda,  330;  official  report  by  Captain 
Hodgsdon  regarding  share  of,  in  the  battle, 
329;  officers  and  crew  of,  commended  by 
Captain  Hodgsdon,  330;  sails  for  Hong- 
Kong  with  Commodore  Dewey's  dispatches, 
245. 

Hunt,  Pay  Clerk  F.  K.,  of  the  Concord,  com 
mended  by  Commander  Walker,  365,  366. 

Huse,  Prof.  Hiram  A.,  speaker  at  the  Mont 
pelier  celebration  of  Dewey's  victory,  390. 

Hyde  family 450 

—  Simon  . .  . .   447 


GENERAL   INDEX 


549 


I 

Illinois,  State  of 316 

Ilocos,  Philippine  Islands 530 

Iloilo 517 

Inch,  Chief  Engineer  Richard,  of  the  Concord, 
306. 

Independence,  The,  United  States  receiving 
ship,  318. 

Indigo,  superior  quality  of,  grown  in  the  Philip 
pines,  529. 

Inspection,  great  necessity  for,  in  the  Navy, 
208. 

Irene,  The,  German  war  ship,  interference  of, 
with  the  operations  of  the  Philippine  in 
surgents  at  Isla  Grande,  209 ;  retires  from 
Isla  Grande  on  the  approach  of  the  Boston 
and  the  Concord,  209. 

Irish,  Robert  L 86 

Irwin,  Ensign  U.  E.,  of  the  Baltimore,  302, 
344 ;  commended  by  Lieutenant-Commander 
Bnggs,  345. 

Jsabelle,  The,  Confederate  schooner 315 

Isla  de  Cuba,  The,  Spanish  cruiser,  219,  277; 
description  and  crew  of,  309,  310;  tonnage 
and  guns  of,  240;  position  of,  in  the  Spanish 
line  at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  286 ;  as 
sists  in  saving  the  crew  of  the  Reina  Chris 
tina,  292;  becomes  Admiral  Montojo's  flag 
ship,  292;  burned  by  Lieutenant  Hughes,  of 
the  Petrel,  227,  362. 

Isla  de  Luzon,  The,  Spanish  cruiser,  219,  277; 
description  and  crew  of,  309,  310;  tonnage 
and  guns  of,  240 ;  position  of,  in  the  Spanish 
line  at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  286 ;  as 
sists  in  saving  the  crew  of  the  Reina  Chris 
tina,  292;  casualties  to,  295;  burned  by 
Lieutenant  Hughes,  of  the  Petrel,  362. 

Isla  de  Mindanao,  The,  Spanish  transport, 
captain  of,  advised  by  Admiral  Montojo  to 
leave  Manila  Harbor  before  the  arrival  of 
the  American  squadron,  286;  sunk  during 
the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  286. 

Isla  Grande,  interference  of  the  Germans  with 
the  operations  of  the  Filipino  insurgents  at, 
209. 

Italy,  Bernard,  King  of 446 

—  Pepin,  King  of 446 


Jahla  tribes,  Philippine  Islands 519 

Jackman,  General  Alonzo,  instructor  of  George 

Dewey  in  military  science,  87-89 ;  services 

of,   during   the    Civil   War,    88;    character 

of,  88. 
Jaffa,  Asia  Minor,  Port  of,  visited  by  George 

Dewey,  147. 
James,  Assistant.  Engineer  L.  J.,  of  the  Boston, 

305. 


Jamestown,  The,  United  States  training-ship, 

314. 

Japan,  war  of,  with  China,  83;  George  Dewey's 
estimate  of,  193,  416,  417;  Emperor  and 
Empress  of,  accord  Dewey  a  private  inter 
view,  193. 

Jaroslaus,  Grand  Duke  of  Russia 443 

Jersey  City  Evening  Journal 71 

Jerusalem,  visited  by  Dewey  in  1885 188 

Johnstone,  Acting  Gunner    G.   D.,  of  the   Ra- 

leiyh,  306. 
Jones,    Passed  Assistant  Engineer   H.    W.,    of 

the  Concord,  306;  effective  work  of,  365. 
Juniata,  The,  United  States  war  vessel. . . .  313 

K 

Karney,  Naval  Cadet  T.  A.,  of  the  Baltimore, 

302. 

Kavanagh,  Ensign  A.  G.,  of  the  Olympia    .   300 
Kearsart/e,  The,  United  States  gunboat,  314; 

George  Dewey,  executive  officer  of,  180. 
Kelley,  Acting  Master  of  the  Mississippi .  .   179 
Kellogg,   Lieutenant  F.  W.,  of  the  Baltimore, 

302. 

Kellogg-Hubbard  Library,  Montpelier,  Vt.,  de 
scription  of,  28. 

Kentucky,  State  of 316 

Key  West,  Fla 128 

Kiley,  Acting  Carpenter  T.  E.,  of  the  Raleiyh, 

306. 

Kindleberger,  Assistant  Surgeon  C.  H.,  of  the 
Olympia,  300;  volunteers  to  remain  with 
Dewey,  after  orders  detaching  him  had  ar 
rived,' 252. 

King  John  of  England 445 

Kiser,  Ensign  L.  A.,  of  the  Concord,  306;  com 
mended  by  Commaqder  Walker,  365. 

Kittery  Navy  Yard,  New  Hampshire 180 

Knepper,  Ensign  0.  S.,  of  the  Concord,  30C , 
admirable   performance   of    duty   as   signal 
officer,  365. 
Kobe,  Japan,  death  of  Captain  Gridley  at,  314, 

427. 

Kuhlwein,  Gunner  L.  J.  G.,  of  the  Olympia, 
301. 


Lackawanna,  The,  United  States  steam  sloop, 

317. 
Ladd,    Henry   G.,    correspondent  of  the   New 

York  Journal,  his  account  of  the  Battle  of 

Manila  Bay,  256-265. 

Lagoa  de  Bay 514 

Laguna,  Philippine  Islands 525 

Lake  Champlain 32 

Lambert,  Elizabeth,  447;  arms  of 449 

-  family 449 

—  Henry 447 

Robert ...  . .  447 


550 


GENERAL  INDEX 


Lambert,  Sir  Thomas 449 

. Sir  William,  Lord  of  Owlton  Manor, 

445,  447. 

Lamberton,  Captain  Benjamin  Peft'or,  Commo 
dore  Dewey's  chief-of-staff  at  the  Battle 
of  Manila  Bay,  2-20,  222,  300,  428;  bio 
graphical  sketch  of,  313;  personally  com 
mended  by  Commodore  Dewey,  252. 

Lander,  Brigadier-General  F.  W.,  his  services 
in  the  Civil  War,  85. 

Lavalette,  Flag-Officer  E.  A.  F.,  of  the  Wabash, 
128,  144,  147,  155,  156;  invited  to  visit  the 
Sultan  of  Turkey,  144. 

League  Island 316 

Lee,  Mrs.  Fitzhugh,  395;  letter  of,  regarding 
the  presentation  of  a  flag  to  Admiral  Dewey, 
399. 

Leghorn,  Italy,  visited  by  George  Dewey,  156, 
164. 

Leicester,  Earl  of 444,  446 

—  second  earl  of 444,  446 

—  third  Earl  of 444,  446 

Lenderman,   Seaman  Charles  W.,   commended 

by  Lieutenant-Commander  Norris,  of  the 
Boston,  338. 

Lepanto,  district  of,  Philippine  Islands,  rich 
veins  of  copper  in,  524. 

Lilley,  Susan  Elizabeth 460,  463 

Lincoln,  Abraham 170,  493 

Livingston,  Representative,  of  Georgia,  bill  of, 
to  revive  rank  of  Admiral  to  honor  Dewey, 
386,  387. 

Lodge,  Senator  Henry  C.,  384;  resolution  of, 
authorizing  the  presentation  of  a  sword  to 
Dewey,  and  medals  to  his  officers  and  men, 
383,  384. 

Logan,  Mrs.  John  A.,  395;  letter  of,  regarding 
the  presentation  of  a  flasr  to  Admiral  Dewey, 
396,  397. 

Log-book  of  George  Dewey,  extracts  from,  126, 
128,  132,  143,  159,  169;  examined  by  Cap 
tain  Barron  of  the  Wabash,  168. 

Long,  Secretary  of  the  Navy  John  D.,  206,  211, 
380,  383;  order  of,  to  Dewey  to  "keep  full 
of  coal,"  204;  order  of,  to  Dewey  to  "fill 
up  with  provisions,"  204;  order  of,  to  Dewey 
to  land  all  woodwork  and  stores  not  abso 
lutely  necessary,  206;  cables  congratulations 
to  Dewey,  390;  letter  of,  to  Dewey,  383; 
signs  commission  of  Dewey  as  Admiral,  389. 

Long,  Pay  Clerk  W.  M.,  complimentary  men 
tion  of,  by  Captain  Gridley,  326. 

Lothar  I.,  King  of  the  Francs 442 

Luzon,  Island  of,  234,  255;  religious  control  in, 
520. 

Lyman,  Alicia 447 

—  family,  arms  of 449 

-  Hepzibah 446,  447,  455 

Henry  of  Navistoke 447 


Lyman,  Henry  of  High  Ongar 445,  447 

—  John 447 

—  Lambert-Osborne  family,  arms  of .  .   449 
Margaret 447 

-  Richard 446,  447,  449 

—  Robert 447 

Sarah 447 

-  Thomas 445 

M 

MacDonald,  W.,  carpenter,  of  the  Olympia.  301 
Macedonia,Tihe,  United  States  sloop-of-war.  139 

Mactan,  Philippine   Islands 502 

Magellan,  Ferdinand,  enters  the  service  of 
Charles  V.  of  Spain,  502;  discovers  the  Phil 
ippines,  501;  desperate  fight  with  the  nat 
ives,  502,  505;  death  of,  505. 

Magna  Charta 445 

Mahomet 147 

Maine,  United  States  battleship,  396;  destruc 
tion  of,  and  its  effect  on  the  American  peo 
ple,  195. 

Malate,  Philippine  Islands,  274;  battery  at.   248 
Malta,  illness  of  George    Dewey  in   the   naval 
hospital  at,  187,  188;  remarks  of  Dewey  con 
cerning,  188. 

Manassas,  The,  Confederate  ram 396,  397 

Manila  Bay,  108,  192,  198,  200,  514;  arrival  of 
Commodore  Dewey  at,  216. 

—  Battle  of,  99,  208,  212;  plans 
for,  laid  in  Hong-Kong  harbor,  255;  be 
ginning  of,  219,  330 ;  action  opened  by  the. 
battery  on  Point  Sangley,  288;  Dewey's 
order  to  begin  firing,  "221 ;  order  of  Dewey 
to  open  with  all  guijs,  225 ;  watchword  of 
Americans,  220 ;  varying  ranges  at  which 
American  squadron  fought,  247  ;  American 
squadron  withdraws  for  breakfast,  226 ; 
American  squadron  returns  to  the  attack, 
331,  335  ;  continuous  fire  by  the  shore  bat 
teries  at  Manila,  248 ;  Governor-General  of 
Manila  warned  by  Dewey  to  cease  firing  un 
der  pain  of  bombardment,  248 ;  explosion 
of  submarine  mines,  262,  321 :  attempt  of 
the  Spanish  to  torpedo  the  Olympia,  248, 
258 ;  terrific  fire  during  the  first  engage 
ment,  267  ;  destruction  of  Spanish  vessels, 
226,  227,  248,  251,  262,  270,  291-295-;  Spanish 
forts  and  batteries  silenced,  335  ;  hauling 
down  of  Spanish  flag  on  Cavite"  arsenal,  227  ; 
hoisting  of  white  flag  on  Cavit^  arsenal, 
227  ;  erroneous  impression  that  the  battle 
was  not  hard  fought,  256,  257 ;  a  fiercely 
contested  but  short  struggle,  256  ;  bravery 
and  stubbornness  of  the  Spanish  defense, 
216  ;  vigorous  but  ineffective  fire  by  the 
Spanish,  248 ;  end  of  the  engagement,  248, 
251 ;  loss  of  the  Spanish  in  dead  and 
wounded,  215  ;  no  casualties  and  trifling  loss 


GENERAL  INDEX 


551 


to  the  Americans,  216  ;  Commodore  Dewey's 
own  report  of,  247-255  ;  official  statements  of 
commanding  and  executive  officers  regarding, 
320-370  ;  Captain  Charles  V.  Gridley's  re 
port  of  the  Olympiads  share  in  the,  320-329  ; 
official  report  of  the  Baltimore's  share  in 
the,  338-345  ;  official  report  of  the  Boston's 
share  in  the,  330,  331 ;  official  report  of  the 
Raleigh's  share  in  the,  345-348  ;  official  re 
ports  of  the  Concord's  share  in  the.  362-370  ; 
official  reports  of  the  Petrel's  share  in  the, 
348-370;  official  report  of  the  McCulloch''s 
share  in  the,  329,  330;  as  viewed  by  United 
States  Consul  Williams,  266-272 ;  as  re 
ported  by  J.  L.  Stickney,  an  ex-naval  officer, 
Commodore  Dewey's  aid  and  also  corre 
spondent  of  the  New  York  Herald,  214-245  ; 
Admiral  Montojo's  official  report  of  the,  273- 
296  ;  comparison  of  forces  engaged,  299-313  ; 
Spanish  comments  on,  296-298 ;  the  only 
finish  fight  between  modern  war  vessels,  271 ; 
magnitude  of  the  American  victory,  376 ; 
the  greatest  naval  victory  in  history,  43 ; 
map  of  the  world  changed  by  victory,  43 ; 
lessons  from  the  American  victory,  265, 
266  ;  moral  effect  of  the  victory,  376  ;  cele 
brated  in  song  and  verse,  399,  400  ;  anniver 
sary  of,  to  become  a  legal  holiday  in  certain 
States,  399. 

Manila,  City  of,  101,  197,  206,  298,  517;  descrip 
tion  of,  523 ;  harbor  of,  99,  517 ;  population 
of,  517,  518 ;  lights  of,  sighted  by  American 
squadron,  238;  batteries  at,  248;  batteries  at, 
open  fire  on  the  American  squadron,  288, 
321,  330,  338;  Lunetta  battery  at,  opens  fire, 
346 ;  battery  at,  fires  upon  the  Concord,  367 ; 
fire  of  batteries  at,  produces  no  impression 
on  American  squadron,  297;  Governor-Gen 
eral  of,  warned  by  Dewey  to  cease  firing 
from  the  shore  batteries  at,  248;  inhabitants 
of,  flee  to  the  outskirts,  297;  bombardment 
of,  prevented,  248;  Governor  of,  refuses  to 
allow  cable  operators  to  transmit  Commodore 
Dewey's  dispatches,  244;  cable  from,  to 
Hong-Kong,  cut  by  the  Zajiro,  244. 
—  hemp 528 

Manila,  The,  Spanish  transport,  262,  264;  tows 
the  Castilla  from  Port  Subic  to  Manila,  285  ; 
sent  to  the  Iloads  of  Bacoor,  286  ;  captured 
by  the  American  squadron  at  the  Battle  of 
Manila  Bay,  227,  241 ;  brought  out  by  Lieu 
tenant  Fiske  and  Engineer  Hall  of  the  Petrel, 
355  ;  becomes  a  prize  to  the  American  squad 
ron,  255. 

Mare  Island  Navy  Yard 318 

Marques  del  Dnero,  The,  Spanish  dispatch-boat, 
219,  277;  description  and  crew  of,  310,  311 ; 
tonnage  and  guns  of,  240 :  position  of,  in 
the  Spanish  line  at  the  Battle  of  Manila 


Bay,    286 ;    assists   in   saving  crew  of    the 
Reina   Christina,  292  ;   set  on  fire  and  de 
stroyed  by  Lieutenant  Hughes  of  the  Petrel, 
227,  362  ;  casualties  on,  295. 
Marseilles,  France,  visited  by  George  Dewey.  136 
Marshall,  Assistant  Engineer  J.  F.,  Jr.,  of  the 

Olympia,  301. 

Marsteller,  Surgeon  E.  H.,  of  the  Raleigh.  306 
Martin,  Paymaster  J.  K.,  of  the  Boston,  305; 
serves  coffee  during  the   Battle  of   Manila 
Bay,  261. 

Massachusetts,  State  of 317 

-  Colony 446 

Matilda,  Countess  of  Angus 447 

Mayflower,  The,  American  ship 160 

McCormack,  Ensign  M.  J.,  of  the  Baltimore, 

302. 

McCormick   Lieutenant  (junior  grade)  C.  M., 
commended  by  Commander  Asa  Walker,  of 
the  Concord,  365. 
McCMough,   Hugh,   The,    American    revenue 

cutter.  See  HUGH  McCuLLOCH. 
McKinley,  President  William,  192;  assigns 
Commodore  Dewey  to  the  Asiatic  squadron 
at  the  request  of  Senator  Kedfield  Proctor, 
192,  193;  proclamation  of,  declaring  war 
against  Spain,  206-208;  first  message  of,  to 
Congress  regarding  Dewey,  375-379 ;  recom 
mends  thanks  of  Congress  to  Dewey,  379; 
sends  message  thanking  the  officers  and  men 
of  Dewey's  squadron  for  the  victory  at 
Manila  Bay,  379;  promotes  Commodore 
Dewey  to  the  rank  of  Rear-Admiral,  380; 
signs  the  bill  reviving  the  rank  of  Admiral, 
389;  sends  to  the  Senate  the  nomination  of 
Rear-Admiral  Dewey  as  Admiral,  389 ;  signs 
commission  of  Dewey  as  Admiral  of  the 
Navy,  389;  cables  congratulations  to  Ad 
miral  Dewey,  390;  cablegram  to  Admiral 
Dewey  on  the  first  anniversary  of  the  Battle 
of  Manila  Bay,  400 ;  remarks  on  magnitude 
of  the  victory  at  Manila  Bay,  376. 
McNair,  Rear-Admiral,  relieved  by  Dewey  as 

commander  of  the  Asiatic  squadron,  193. 
Mead,  Larkin  G.,  sculptor  of  the  Ethan  Allen 
statue  at  Montpelier,  36. 

Mead,  William  R 86 

Mediterranean  Sea,  18,  128,  131;  George  Dew 
ey's  first  cruise  in  the,  128;  his  second 
cruise  in  the,  188. 

Merritt,  Major-General  Wesley,  arrival  of,  in 
the   Philippines,  210;    co-operation   of  Ad 
miral  Dewey  with,  210. 
Messina,  Italy,  visited  by  George  Dewey  . .   140 

Mexican  War 80,  84,  85 

Michigan,  State  of 314 

Middiebury,  Yt 53 

Millent,   Earl  of 444 

Miller,  Mehitable 448,  456 


552 


GENERAL  INDEX 


Milroy,  Major-General  Robert,  services  of,  in 
the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars,  84,  85. 

Mindanao,  Island  of,  514,  517;  visited  by 
Magellan,  5(1-2. 

Mirror  Lake, Vermont,  38:  purity  of  water  of,  38. 

Mirs  Hay,  China,  rendezvous  of  the  American 
squadron  after  leaving  Hong-Kong,  208,  231, 
-255;  departure  of  the  American  squadron 
from,  282. 

Mi*ti*ifi]>jii,  The,  United  States  war  vessel,  at 
Port  Hudson,  in  the  Civil  War,  172,  423; 
attempt  of,  to  run  the  Confederate  batteries, 
17-2-180;  loses  its  bearings  and  runs  aground, 
172,  176;  rapid  gun  fire  on,  172,  176;  destruc 
tion  of,  172-171);  estimate  of  casualties  to, 
at  Port  Hudson,  180;  service  of  George 
Dewey  on,  171-80. 

Mobile  Bay 219,  317 

Mohican,  The,  United  States  war  vessel. . .   313 

Moluccas,  The 502 

Munadnuck, The,  United  States  ironclad  .   317 

Monocacy,The,  United  States  war  vessel,  officers 
and  men  of,  transferred  to  Commodore  Dew 
ey's  squadron,  230. 

Monongahela,  The,  United  States  war  vessel, 
176,  314,  316. 

Montgomery,  Ensign  \V.  S.,  of  the  Petrel, 
307:  services  of,  in  charge  of  signals  and  in 
observing  the  fall  of  shots  at  the  Battle  of 
Manila  Bay,  359. 

Montojo,  Admiral  of  the  Spanish  squadron  at 
the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  219,  240;  order 
of,  to  the  commandant  of  the  arsenal  at 
Cavite,  273,  274;  list  and  characteristics  of 
ships  under  command  of,  240,  241 ;  squadron 
of,  for  the  defense  of  Port  Subic,  277 ;  leaves 
Manila  for  Port  Subic,  277,  278;  confers 
with  Captain  Del  Rio,  278;  convenes  council 
of  captains,  285 ;  decides  to  meet  the  Ameri 
can  squadron  at  Manila  rather  than  at  Subic, 
285;  returns  from  Subic  to  Manila,  285; 
plan  of,  to  protect  Manila,  285;  decides  to 
take  position  in  the  Bay  of  Canacao,  285; 
orders  Commandant  Del  Rio  to  concentrate 
his  forces  at  Cavite*  Arsenal,  285 ;  plan  of, 
to  protect  the  water  line  of  the  Castilln,  285; 
hears  of  the  departure  of  Commodore  Dewey 
from  Mirs  Bay,  282;  advises  the  captain  of 
the  Spanish  mail  steamer  Isla  de  Mindanao 
to  leave  Manila  Bay,  prior  to  the  arrival  of 
the  American  squadron,  286-287 ;  orders  of, 
prior  to  the  battle,  287 ;  preparations  for  the 
battle,  287;  signals  to  prepare  for  action, 
287 ;  warned  by  gun  fire  at  Corregidor  Is 
land,  287 ;  signals  to  open  fire  on  the  Amer 
ican  squadron,  288;  directs  the  earlier  por 
tion  of  the  engagement  from  the  bridge  of 
the  Rfinn  Christina,  257,  258;  orders  the 
Reina  Christina.to  be  abandoned  and  sunk, 


292;  abandons  the  Reina  Christina  and 
transfers  his  pennant  to  the  Isla  de  Cuba, 
258,  292  ;  gives  orders  about  burning  stores 
and  coal,  285 ;  orders  vessels  to  sink  before 
surrendering,  295;  preparations  of,  to  sink 
vessels,  295  ;  his  own  version  of  the  battle, 
273-296;  highly  commends  the  officers  and 
men  of.  his  squadron,  295 ;  personal  bravery 
of,  257,  258;  Admiral  Dewey's  tribute  to 
the  bravery  of ,  428-433;  courteous  response  to 
Dewey's  letter,  expressing  admiration,  433; 
retires,  wounded,  to  the  Convent  Santo  Do 
mingo  de  Cavite,  295. 

Montpelier,  Vermont,  426;  location  of,  22; 
description  of,  22,  32 ;  population  of,  22  ; 
statue  of  Ethan  Allen  at,  22  ;  birthplace  of 
George  Dewey,  22 ;  State-House  at,  22,  31, 
32,  35  ;  State  Street  in,  23  ;  house  in  which 
George  Dewey  was  born,  24  ;  Christ's  Church 
at,  24 ;  Kellogg-Hubbard  Library  at,  28  ; 
Heaton  Hospital  at,  28  :  Seminary  at,  28 ; 
"National  Life"  building  at,  28;  reso 
lution  of  citizens  of,  congratulating  Dewey 
and  his  officers  and  men  on  the  victory  at 
Manila  Bay,  391  ;  celebration  of  the  victory 
at,  22,  390,'  391. 

Moody,  Representative,  of  Massachusetts,  meas 
ure  of,  reviving  the  office  of  Admiral  to 
honor  Dewey,  389. 

Morgan,  Lieutenant  C.  B.,  of  the  Raleigh.  306 
-  Lieutenant  G.  S.,  of  the  Olympia  .  .  300 

N 

Nagasaki,  Japan,  194 ;  arrival  of  Commodore 
Dewey  at,  415;  rendezvous  of  the  Asiatic 
squadron  when  Commodore  Dewey  took 
command,  193. 

Nanshan,  The,  merchant  steamer,  bought  by 
Dewey  for  a  supply  ship,  205,  230 ;  position 
of,  during  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  287. 

Naples,  King  of 163 

Napoleon  I.,  Fete  of 164 

Napoleon,  Prince,  saluted  by  the  Wabash,  155, 

156. 

Narragansett,  The,  United  States  vessel.  184 
Naval  Academy,  at  Annapolis,  The,  64,  313, 
314,  317,  3l9  ;  entrance  of  George  Dewey 
at  (1854),  101 ;  requirements  for  admission 
to,  101-105;  studies  during  the  first  year,  105, 
106 ;  treatment  of  first-year  men  at,  106 ; 
daily  routine  of  the  cadets  at,  111,  112;  fun 
and  recreation  at,  112,  115  ;  studies  at,  dur- 
the  second,  third,  and  fourth  years,  116,  117  ; 
sentiment  at,  regarding  lying,  117,  118; 
effect  of  its  training  upon  naval  officers,  108. 
Navy  Department,  The,  precautionary  orders  of, 
to  Commodore  Dewey,  just  prior  to  the  Battle 
of  Manila  Bay,  203-206. 


GENERAL  INDEX 


553 


Navy,  United  States,  The,  cheap  men  not  wanted 
iii,  265  ;  value  of  high-grade  men  in  the, 
265,  266. 

Negritos 519 

Nelson,  Admiral 16,  397,  405 

—  H.  L.,   tribute  of,  to  Admiral  Dewey, 
500. 

-  Lieutenant  V.  S.,  of  the  Olympia .  .  300 

New  Albany,  Ind 422 

Newburyport,  Mass 180 

New  England 412 

New  Hampshire 180, 183,  318 

New    Jersey    Historical     Society    makes    Ad 
miral  Dewey  an  honorary  member,  and  pre 
sents  him  with  the  Washington  Centennial 
medal,  401. 

New  Orleans,  La.,  396;  George  Dewey's  part  in 

the  capture  of,  171-180. 
Newport,  R.  I.,  birth  of  Admiral  Dewey's  son 

and  death  of  his  wife  at,  184;  torpedo  school 

at,  317. 

New  York  City 131 

-  State 319 

New  York,  The,  United  States  cruiser   ...   413 
Norcott,  E.  J.,  Acting  Boatswain  of  the  Olympia, 

301. 
Norfolk  Navy  Yard   314,  318 

-  Ralph  de  Waer,  Earl  of 444 

Normandy,  William  of 444 

Norris,     Lieutenant-Commander     J.     A.,     ex 
ecutive    officer    of   the    Boston,     229,    305; 
official    report   of,    regarding  the   Boston's 
share  in  the   Battle   of   Manila   Bay,   332- 
338. 

North  Atlantic  station 318 

Northfield,  Vermont,  Norwich  University  re 
moved  to,  80. 

Norwich  University,  64;  removal  of,  to  North- 
field,  Vermont,'  80;  domain  of  (1850-60), 
89;  description  of,  79-94;  former  opportuni 
ties  of,  for  a  complete  education,  93,  94;  once 
a  rival  of  the  National  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point,  80;  remarks  of  General  W.  T. 
Sherman,  regarding,  80 ;  visits  of  students  of, 
to  Fort  Ticonderoga,  93 ;  cadetship  of  George 
Dewey  at,  94-99;  feuds  between  cadets  of, 
and  the  students  of  Dartmouth  College, 
90-92 ;  how  the  Government  6-pounders  were 
drawn  to  quarters  at,  97-99;  its  quota  of 
post-cadets  and  officers  in  the  Army  and 
Navy,  80-85;  alumni  associations  of,  in 
New  York  and  Boston,  85,  86;  account 
of  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay  published  in 
the  Reveille  at,  296-298;  plan  to  erect  an 
addition  to,  to  be  called  Dewey  Hall,  99; 
confers  the  degree  of  Master  of  Military 
Science  upon  Admiral  Dewey,  83. 

Nunez,  Lieutenant  Jose,  highly  commended  by 
Admiral  Montojo,  288,  291 


Ohio,  State  of 319 

"Old  Glory" 198 

Oliva,  A.  M.  de,  Captain  of  the  Spanish  cruiser 

Cagtilla,  240. 
Oliver,  Professor,  of  [the  United  States  Naval 

Academy,  384. 

Olympia,  The,  United  States  cruiser,  160,  212, 
214,  231,  234,  237,  314,  376,  427  ;  Commodore 
Dewey's  flagship,  193;  description  of,  300 ; 
musical  program  at  luncheon  on  board  of, 
195  ;  tonnage  and  guns  of,  229  ;  .officers  of, 
300,  301 ;  complement  of,  301 ;  lack  of  offi 
cers  for  the  batteries  of,  252  ;  council  of  war 
'  on,  just  before  reaching  Manila,  236  ;  passes 
through  Boca  Grande,  321 ;  safely  passes 
Corregidor  Island,  216,  237;  signals  the 
McCulloch  to  take  safer  position  in  passing 
Corregidor  Island,  237 ;  preparations  for 
battle  on,  322 ;  protection  of  ammunition 
hoists  on,  234  ;  crew  called  to  general  quar 
ters  on,  320 ;  ready  to  begin  action,  320 ; 
leads  the  column  in  the  first  attack,  321 ;  po 
sition  of,  in  the  American  line,  216  ;  prin 
cipal  target  for  the  Spanish  at  the  opening 
of  the  engagement,  225  ;  impatience  of  crew 
of,  to  return  the  Spanish  fire,  with  all  guns, 
222 ;  close  call  of,  from  Spanish  shell,  222 ; 
effect  of  bursting  shell  as  seen  from  the 
bridge  of,  243,  244 ;  threatened  by  Spanish 
torpedo  boats,  248,  258,  321 ;  destruction  of 
torpedo  boats  by,  258 ;  range  of  fire  of,  dur 
ing  the  battle,  321 ;  how  range  was  obtained 
on,  329  ;  battery  of,  concentrated  on  the 
Reina  Christina,  248,  257  ;  rakes  the  Reina 
Christina  fore  and  aft  with  an  8-inch  shell, 
322  ;  detailed  account  of  the  work  of  the  guns 
and  batteries  on,  325,  326  ;  damages  to,  322 ; 
struck  thirteen  times,  257,  265  ;  no  casualties 
on,  326  ;  stokers  overcome  by  heat  on,  374. 
Oneida,  The,  United  States  steam  sloop. . .  314 

Onion  River,  Vt -40 

Ordennes,  Captain,  Commandante  General,  sec 
ond  in  command  of  the  Spanish  squadron,  240 
Ore  (/on,  The,  United  States  battleship   ...   100 
Orient,  The,  193 ;    Commodore  Dewey  on  the 
increase  of  naval  force  in,  by  England  and 
Russia,  417,  418. 

Orton,  Sarah 

Osborne  family 

Sarah,  arms  of. 


456 
450 
449 


Ossipee,  The,  United  States  war  vessel. . .  .   316 
O' Sullivan,  T.  C.,  speaker   at   the   Montpelier 
celebration  of  Dewey's  victory,  390. 

—  Reverend  Father,  speaker  at  the  Mont 
pelier  celebration  of  Dewey's  victory,  391, 
392. 

Otis,  Major-General  Elwell  S.,  opinion  of,  re 
garding  the  Filipino  insurrection,  203. 


554 


GENERAL  INDEX 


Outremer,  Louis  d' 

Owlton  Manor 


..   44-3 
.   445 


Page,  Passed  Assistant  Surgeon  J.  E.,  of  the 
Oiympia,  300. 

Pagsanan,  Philippine  Islands 525 

Paine,    Lieutenant-Commander    S.    C.,   of  the 

Olympia,  300. 

Pangborn,  Major  Z.  K.,  teacher  of  George 
Dewey,  28  ;  how  he  conquered  George  Dewey, 
71-75. 

Paranaque,  Philippine  Islands    274 

Paris,  Treaty  of 202 

Parthian  monarchs 443 

Partridge,  Captain  Alden,  founder  of  Norwich 

University,  79,  80. 

Pasig  River,  Philippine  Islands,  42,  514 ;  battery 
at  the  entrance  of,  248. 

Paulding,  Rear- Admiral  Hiram 83 

Pan-nee,  The,  United  States  vessel .   316 

Pei-ho,  China,  engagement  between  the  Eng 
lish  and  Chinese  at,  83. 

-River,  China 413 

Peking,  China 413 

Pennsylvania,  State  of 313,  399 

Pensacola,  The,  United  States  war  vessel,  com 
manded  by  George  Dewey,  188,  317. 
Perrin,  Mary,   mother   of   George   Dewey,  53, 
448  ;  sketch  of,  460. 

-    Zachariah,     grandfather     of     George 
Dewey,  53. 

Perry,  Commodore 396,  408 

Perseverance,  The,  English  troop  ship 148 

Petrel,  The,  United  States  gunboat,  193,  319, 
376  ;  description  of,  307 ;  tonnage  and  guns  of, 
230, 307:  officers  of,  307;  complement  of,  307; 
gradually  cleared  for  action  at  the  Battle  of 
Manila  Bav,  360,  361:  position  of,  in  American 
line,  216,  247,  293, 348  ;  passes  Boca  Grande, 
348  ;  signaled  to  prepare  for  action,  351 ;  first 
shot  fired  by,  361  ;  great-gun  fire  of,  directed 
at  the  Reina  Christina  and  the  Castilla, 
351;  fires  upon  Spanish  torpedo  boats,  351, 
352 ;  withdraws  temporarily  from  action, 
352  ;  signaled  to  enter  the  inner  harbor  with 
others  and  destroy  all  the  Spanish  ships,  226, 
227,  352 :  moves  to  within  1,000  yards  of  the 
enemy,  227 ;  directs  its  fire  against  the  Don 
Antonio,  cle  Ulloa,  352  :  respects  the  Geneva 
Cross  flag,  352  ;  bold  exploit  of,  262 ;  com 
pletes  the  destruction  of  all  the  small  Span 
ish  gunboats,  251 ;  signals  the  surrender  of 
the  Spanish,  352 ;  returns  to  the  squadron, 
355 ;  is  heartily  cheered  for  effective  work  in 
the  inner  harbor,  244  ;  manoeuvres  of,  during 
the  battle,  351-355  •  technical  account  of  the 
working  of  the  guns  on,  356  ;  excellent  action 


of  ammunition  on,  356  ;  amount  of  ammuni 
tion  expended  on,  351,  361 ;  excellent  conduct 
of  officers  and  men,  356,  361,  362 ;  efficient 
work  of  the  engines  of,  359,  360. 

Phelps,  Anna 448,  459 

Philippine  Archipelago 28 

Philippine  Islands,  The,  198,  199,  200,  204,  206, 
211;  situation  of,  506;  discovery  of,  by 
Magellan,  501;  extent  of,  506;  number  of, 
506 ;  area  of,  509 ;  area  of,  as  compared  with 
several  of  the  United  States,  506,  509 ;  his- 
tory  of,  501-506 ;  climate  of,  509,  532 ;  state 
ment  of  United  States  Consul  Williams 
regarding  the  climate  of,  532,  533  (foot 
note);  excessive  humidity  in,  509  (footnote); 
seasons  of,  509  ;  surface  and  drainage  of, 
506  ;  mountains  and  volcanoes  of,  510  ;  earth 
quakes  in,  510  ;  structure  of  houses  in,  510  ; 
waters  of,  513,  514,  517 ;  minerals  of,  524, 
525;  mineral  waters  of,  525  ;  inhabitants  of, 
517-520 ;  population  of,  517  ;  cleverness  of 
natives  of,  520  ;  Chinese  in,  517,  518  :  com 
merce  of,  520  ;  railroads  and  telegraph  lines 
in,  517  ;  many  harbors  of,  closed  to  foreign 
commerce,  517  ;  education  in,  520,  523  ;  re 
ligious  orders  in,  520  ;  character  of  the  news 
papers  in,  523  ;  vegetable  products  of,  525- 
30 ;  lumber  and  commercial  woods  of, 
530,  531;  plants  of,  531;  troublesome  in 
sects  in,  533,  534;  wild  animals  of,  537; 
reptiles  and  serpents  of,  534 ;  policy  of 
Spain  in,  537 ;  treatment  of  the  natives  by 
Spain,  505 ;  Dutch,  English,  and  Chinese 
marauders  in,  506 ;  Chinese  rebellion  in, 
506  ;  attacks  of  the  Dutch  upon,  506  ;  Philip 
II.  the  first  to  establish  Spanish  authority 
over,  505  ;  expeditions  sent  to,  by  Spain,  505  ; 
firm  grip  kept  by  Spain  upon,  506  ;  predic 
tion  of  Admiral  Dewey  regarding  Spanish 
reign  in,  197  ;  capable  of  great  development, 
523,  524 ;  possibilities  for  agricultural  pur 
suits  in,  526  ;  possibilities  under  American 
rule,  538  ;  hope  for  under  American  sover 
eignty,  538;  "the  gateways  of  the  day," 
538;  arrival  of  General  Wesley  Merritt  in, 
210  ;  Governor-General  of,  210  ;  correspond 
ence  of  Governor-General  of,  with  Dewey 
and  Merritt,  210,  211 :  extension  of  Ameri 
can  sovereignty  in,  202. 

Philip  II.  of  Spain,  first  to  establish  sovereignty 
over  the  Philippines,  505  ;  Philippines  named 
after,  538. 

Phoenician  galleys,  representation  of,  on  the 
Dewey  sword,  386. 

Pickering  family 449 

Plunkett,  Lieutenant  C.  P.,  of  the  Petrel,  307 ; 
work  of,  commended  by  Commander  Wood, 
356. 

Point  Sangley.     See  SAMGLEY  POINT. 


GENERAL  INDEX 


555 


Port  Hudson,  423,  424  ;  attempt  to  run  the  Con 
federate  batteries  at,  172,  182. 
Port   Royal,  George  Dewey  takes   part   in   the 
capture  of,  171. 

Portsmouth  Navy  Yard 313,  318 

Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire    180,  184 

Portsmouth,  The,  United  States  sailing  sloop, 
316. 

Potomac,  Army  of 85,  315 

Price,  Medical  Inspector  A.  F.,  of  the  Olympia, 

300. 

Price,  Assistant  Engineer  H.  B.,  of  the  Balti 
more,  302. 

Proctor,  Senator  Redfield,  personally  requests 
of  President  McKinley  that  Commodore 
Dewey  be  assigned  to  the  Asiatic  squadron, 
192. 

Provincetown,  Mass 314 

Prussia 163 

—  Anne  of 446 

—  Minister  of,  visits  the  Wabash .  .    . .   163 
Pynchon,  Nicholas 53 


Quay,  Senator  Matthew  Stanley,  proposal  of, 
authorizing  the  presentation  of  a  jeweled 
sword  to  Admiral  Dewey,  383. 

Quincey,  Lady  Elizabeth  de 445,  447 

—  Saher  de 445,  446 

Quiros,  The,  Spanish  gunboat,  description  and 
crew  of,  310. 


Raleiyk,  The,  United  States  cruiser,  193,  316, 
376  ;  description  of,  305,  306  ;  tonnage  and 
guns  of,  230  ;  officers  of,  306  ;  complement 
of,  306  ;  position  of,  in  the  American  line 
at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  216  ;  answers 
the  Spanish  battery  at  El  Fraile,  346 ;  fires 
the  first  American  shot  in  the  Philippines, 
216,  238;  opens  fire  with  all  guns,  347; 
attacks  the  Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa,  347; 
signaled  to  enter  the  inner  harbor,  with 
others,  and  destroy  all  of  the  Spanish  ships, 
226,  227;  attempt  of,  to  destroy  enemy's 
vessels,  347;  manoeuvres  of,  during  the  battle, 
346,  347;  damage  to,  from  Spanish  shot, 
347 ;  official  report  of  its  share  in  the  battle, 
345,  348 ;  officers  and  crew  of,  commended 
by  Captain  Coghlan,  347;  assists  the  Balti 
more  to  destroy  six  batteries  at  the  entrance 
to  Manila  Bay,  245;  sent  by  Admiral  Dewey 
to  check  the  Germans  at  Isla  Grande,  209 ; 
with  the  assistance  of  the  Concord  captures 
Isla  Grande,  and  takes  1,300  Spanish  prison 
ers,  209;  return  of,  to  the  United  States, 
316,  317. 

Rand,  Charles  T.,  anecdote  of,  regarding 
George  Dewey,  498. 


Randall,  Chief  Engineer,  of  the  Hugh  McCul- 
loch,  dies  while  entering  Manila  Bay,  237, 
238. 

Ransom,  Chief  Engineer  G.  B.,  of  the  Boston, 
305 ;  effectiveness  of  the  steam-department 
under,  on  the  Concord,  365. 

—  Brevet    Major-General    Thomas  E.  G., 
estimate  of,  by  Grant  and  Sherman,  84. 

Truman  B.,  president  of  Norwich  Uni 


versity,  80,  84. 
Rapido,  The,  Spanish  tugboat,  brought  off  by 
Lieutenant  Fiske  of  the  Petrel,  at  the  Battle 
of  Manila  Bay,  355;  turned  over  to  the  flag 
ship  Olym/ria,  362. 

Rebellion,  War  of  the 118 

Rees,  Lieutenant  Corwin  P.,  executive   officer 

of  the  Olympia,  220,  221,  229,  300. 
Reina  Christina,  The,  Admiral  Montojo's  flag 
ship  at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  277,  298; 
description  and  crew  of,  308;  tonnage  and 
guns  of,  240;  position  of,  in  Spanish  line  of 
battle,  286 ;  position  of,  just  prior  to  the  be 
ginning  of  the  engagement,  219;  first  at 
tacked  by  the  Olympia' s  8-inch  guns  at  a 
range  of  5,800  yards,  428;  a  target  for  the 
Olympia,  Baltimore,  and  Raleigh,  288; 
desperate  attempt  of,  to  engage  at  short 
range,  248;  steams  out  alone  to  attack  the 
Olympia,  257;  raked  fore  and  aft  by  an  8-inch 
shell  from  the  Olympia,  321,  322;  ensign 
of,  shot  away,  367 ;  set  on  fire  by  American 
shells,  and  withdraws,  335;  magazines  of, 
flooded  to  extinguish  fire,  291 ;  ordered  to  be 
abandoned  and  sunk,  292;  sinks  near  the 
bastion  at  Cavite,  368  :  rescue  of  crew  of, 
292;  casualties  on,  288,  291,  292. 
Reine  Hortense,  The,  French  royal  steam  yacht, 
156. 

Revolutionary  War 44 

Rhind,  Commander,  Dewey 's  immediate  prede 
cessor  on  the  Narrayansett,  184. 
Rice,    Colonel    Edmund,    remark   of    General 

Miles  concerning,  85. 

Rice,  an  important  product  in  the  Philippines, 
527. 

Rich,  Clayton  E 86 

Richmond,  The,  United  States  vessel 316 

Rightmire,  Fleet  Pay  Clerk  William  J.,  com 
plimentary  mention  of,  by  Captain  Gridley, 
326. 

Robert  the  Pious 443 

Robinson,  Ensign  S.  S.,  of  the  Boston 305 

Robion,  Captain  E.,  of  the  Spanish  cruiser 
Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa,  240. 

Rodam,  Adam  de 447 

-  family 450 

—  Lady  Joane  de 447 

Rodman,  Lieutenant  H.,  of  the  Raleiyh .  .  .  306 
Rogers,  George  C.,  of  the  Wabash 167 


556 


GENERAL  INDEX 


Romblon,  Island  of,  Philippines,  marbles  of, 
524. 

Koine,  443  ;  United  States  consul  at,  visits  the 
W a  faith,  163. 

Roosevelt,  Theodore,  Assistant  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  203;  cablegram  of,  to  Dewey,  204. 

Rumbaugh,  William  M 86 

Kunnymede,  Order  of,  eligibility  of  George 
Dewey  to  membership  in,  445. 

Russia,  193;  Jaroslaus,  Grand  Duke  of,  443; 
Grand  Duke  Constantine  of,  tendered  a  re 
ception  on  board  the  Wabash  at  Genoa,  152; 
naval  force  of,  in  Asiatic  waters  when  Com 
modore  Dewey  arrived  there,  194. 

Rutherford,  Engineer,  of  the  Mississippi.  .   176 

Ryan,  Passed  Assistant  Paymaster  G.  D.,  of  the 
Concord,  306. 


Salem,  Mass 180 

Sampson,  Mrs.  William  T.,  395 ;  letter  of,  re 
garding  presentation  of  a  flag  to  Admiral 
Dewey,  398,  399. 

Sangley  Point,  285,  367  ;  equipment  of  batteries 
at,  288  ;  support  of  Spanish  squadron  by  bat 
teries  at,  341 ;  Battle  of  Manila  Bay  opened 
by  fire  from  batteries  at,  288,  321 ;  batteries 
at,  silenced  by  the  Baltimore,  342. 

Santo  Domingo  de  Cavite,  Convent  of,  refuge  of 
Admiral  Montojo  after  the  Battle  of  Manila 
Bay,  295. 

Saratoga,  The,  United  States  apprentice  ship, 
313. 

Sardinia,  163 ;  Admiral  of,  visits  the  Wabash, 
139  ;  minister  of,  visits  the  Wabash,  163. 

Saugus,  The,  United  States  war  vessel. .  . .   316 

Schley,  Rear-Admiral  W.  S.,  remarks  of,  re 
garding  Admiral  Dewey,  407,  408. 

Scott,  Ensign  W.  P.,  of  the  Olympia,  300 ; 
highly  commended  by  Commodore  Dewey, 
252. 

Scott  family 450 

"  Scott's  Infantry  Tactics," 90 

Senate,  The  United  States,  reception  by,  of  the 
President's  message  regarding  the  victory  at 
Manila,  379 ;  confirms  the  nomination  of 
Dewey  as  Admiral  of  the  Navy,  389. 

Senter,  Major  John  H 390 

Seymour,  Brevet  Major-General  Truman,  his 
services  in  the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars,  85. 

Shaw,  Dr..  Albert,  his  editorial  estimate  of  Ad 
miral  Dewey,  403,  404. 

Sheldon,  N.  L 86 

Sherman,  General  W.  T.,  remarks  of,  regard 
ing  Norwich  University,  80. 

Sidrach,  Captain  ,1.,  of 'the  Spanish  cruiser 
hid  tie  Cuba,  240. 

Siebells,  Assistant  Paymaster  G.  G.,  of  the 
Petrel,  307. 


Sierra  of  Mariveles,  Philippine  Islands ....   525 
Sigsbee,   Mrs.  Charles   T.,   395;   letter  of,  re 
garding  the  presentation  of  a  flag  to  Ad 
miral  Dewey,  399. 

Silver,  Mary 68 

Singapore,  China • . . . .   286 

Singer,  Lieutenant-Commander  Frederic,  of  the 
Jtaleigh,  230,  306. 

"  Song,  A  Prophetic  " 480 

Smith,  Pay  Inspector  P.  A.,  of  the  Olympia, 
301 :  complimentary  mention  of,  by  Captain 
Gridley,  326. 

—  Captain  Melancthon,  of  the  war  vessel 
Mississippi,  172,  176,  396  ;  coolness  displayed 
by,  previous   to    abandoning   his   ship,  179  ; 
remark   of,    to   George   Dewey,    179 ;    with 
Dewey,  the  last  to  leave  the  burning  vessel, 
172,  179. 

—  Assistant  Surgeon  R.  K.,  of  the  Balti 
more,  302. 

Smyrna,  Turkey,  visited  by  George  Dewey,  140  ; 
revisited  by  him  in  1886,  188. 

Snorra  Edda,  ancient  Saxon  chronicle 442 

Spain,  195,  200,  206 ;  minister  of,  visits  the 
Wabash,  163  ;  efforts  of,  to  counteract  Maine 
incident,  195  ;  war  with,  403,  424  ;  declara 
tion  of  war  against,  206-208  ;  firm  grip  kept 
by,  upon  the  Philippines,  506  ;  expeditions 
sent  out  by,  to  the  Philippines,  505  ;  treat 
ment  of  the  Philippines  by,  504. 

Spanish-American  War 18,  20 

Spanish,  strong  position  of,  at  the  Battle  of  Ma 
nila  Bay,  225, 241, 269 ;  open  fire  from  ships  and 
forts,  269  ;  equal  to  Americans  in  gun  power, 
265  ;  attempts  of,  to  employ  torpedoes,  248  ; 
destruction  of  torpedo  boats  of,  258  ;  explosion 
of  submarine  mines  by,  247  ;  bad  judgment 
of,  in  exploding  mines,  219  ;  bad  gunnery  of, 
265  ;  worthlessness  of  war  material  of,  266  ; 
attempt  to  destroy  American  supply  ships, 
261  ;  reply  very  slowly  on  second  attack  of 
Commodore  Dewey's  squadron,  226 ;  annihi 
lation  of  fleet  and  forts  of,  270 ;  many  in 
stances  of  the  desperate  bravery  of,  257,  269, 
270,  298  ;  stubborn  resistance  of,  269,  270  ; 
haul  down  ensign  on  Cavite*  arsenal,  361 ; 
hoist  white  flag  on  Cavite"  arsenal,  352  ;  evi 
dent  desire  of,  to  surrender  after  battle, 
356  ;  estimates  of  the  number  of  killed  and 
wounded,  251,  265,  270,  296  ;  loss  on  ships 
and  forts,  265,  270  ;  cause  of  defeat  of,  312, 
313;  fatal  delay  of,  403;  outclassed  by  Ameri 
cans  in  method,  training,  and  aim,  270. 

Spaulding,  George,  schoolmate  of  George 
Dewey,  78. 

Spezia,  Italy,  169 ;  destruction  of  condemned 
rations  in  the  harbor  of,  169. 

Squadron,  The  American,  description  of,  299- 
307 ;  table  showing  class,  armament,  and 


GENERAL  INDEX 


557 


complement  of,  311 ;  number  of  officers  and 
men  in,  230  ;  fleet  officers  of,  300  ;  fighting 
force  of,  299-307  ;  force  of,  as  reported  by 
Admiral  Montojo,  288 ;  announcement  to 
men  of,  that  war  had  been  declared  against 
Spain,  232  ;  enthusiasm  of  men  at  the  pros 
pect  of  war,  232,  233  ;  handling  of,  prior  to 
the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  216 ;  searchlight  and 
night- signal  exercise,  233;  leaves  Hong-Kong 
at  the  request  of  the  Governor  of  that  city, 
206,  231 ;  repairs  to  Mirs  Bay,  206,  231,  255; 
leaves  Mirs  Bay,  231,  255;  war  preparations  of, 
en  route  to  the  Philippines,  231,  234,  235 ; 
arrival  of,  off  Bolinao,  247  ;  arrives  off  Ma 
nila,  247  ;  enters  Manila  Bay,  269  ;  descrip 
tion  of  entrance  of,  into  Manila  Bay,  236-238  ; 
strict  lookout  for  enemy's  ships  and  torpedo 
boats,  238  ;  manner  in  which  the  vessels  of, 
moved  to  the  attack,  219  ;  order  of,  during 
the  first  part  of  the  battle,  216,  247 ;  order 
of,  as  reported  by  Admiral  Montojo,  287  ; 
perfect  formation  of,  297,  298  ;  disadvantages 
of,  in  attacking  Spanish  fleet,  241,  242 ;  fired 
upon  by  the  batteries  at  Manila,  Cavite",  and 
by  the  Spanish  fleet,  247;  opens  fire  on  Span 
ish  fleet,  321  ;  destructive  work  of,  226,  248, 
257,  270  ;  evolutions  of,  242,  247,  257  ;  with 
draws  for  breakfast,  226,  248  ;  returns  to  the 
attack,  226,  248 ;  second  attack  led  by  the 
Baltimore,  226,  262  ;  effective  work  of,  dur 
ing  the  second  attack,  226,  262 ;  surrender 
of  Spanish  forces  to,  227 ;  comparison  of, 
with  Spanish  fleet,  299-312  ;  superiority  of, 
over  the  Spanish  in  ships,  guns,  men,  and 
marksmanship,  256 ;  splendid  system  of, 
269  ;  bravery  and  efficiency  of  officers  and 
men  of,  269,  271 ;  inconsiderable  damage  to, 
251 ;  official  statements  of  commanding  and 
executive  officers  of,  320-370;  thanks  of 
Congress  to  officers  and  men  of,  recommended 
by  President  McKinley,  379 ;  joint  resolu 
tion  of  Congress  thanking  the  officers  and 
men  of,  379 ! 

Squadron,  Asiatic.  See  ASIATIC  SQUADRON. 
—  Spanish,  195,  198,  204;  principal  vessels 
of,  at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  219  ;  de 
scription  of,  308-311 ;  table  showing  class 
armament  and  complement  of,  311 ;  effective 
force  of,  as  reported  by  Admiral  Montojo, 
288  ;  sighted  off  Cavite",  219,  239,  330  ;  posi 
tion  of,  269  ;  supported  by  batteries  at 
Sangley  Point,  341  ;  advantages  over  attack 
ing  'fleet,  241,  242  ;  line  of  battle  of,  285, 
286 ;  vigorous  reply  of,  331 ;  list  of  vessels 
o,f,  sunk,  burned,  and  captured,  251 ;  small 
gunboats  of,  destroyed  by  the  Petrel,  251 ; 
officers  and  men  of,  highly  commended  by 
Admiral  Montojo,  295  ;  courage  and  resolu 
tion  of,  attested  by  Captain  Wildes,  331 ; 


comparison  of,  with  American  squadron, 
299-313  ;  inferiority  of,  to  attacking  fleet, 
241  ;  inefficiency  of  vessels  of,  295  ;  unpro 
tected  character  of  vessels,  290  ;  lack  of  all 
classes  of  the  personnel  of,  295,  296  ;  scarcity 
of  force  of,  296  ;  scarcity  of  rapid-fire  cannon 
on,  296. 
Stansworth,  Lieutenant  C.  S.,  of  the  Baltimore, 

302. 

State-House,  Montpelier,  Vermont,  description 
of,  31,  32,  33,  35. 

—  Library,  Montpelier,  Vermont  35,  36 
Stickney,  J.  L.,  correspondent  of  the  Xew  York 
Herald,  volunteers  as  aid  to  Commodore 
Dewey  at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  252; 
complimentary  mention  of,  by  Commodore 
Dewey  and  Captain  Gridley  of  the  Olympia, 
252,  326,  327. 

Stockton,  United  States  Minister  to  Italy,  visits 
the  Wabash,  163. 

Stone,  W.\V 490 

Strite,  Lieutenant  S.  M.,  of  the  Olympia.  300 

Stuart,  Mrs.  J.  E.  B 395 

Sual,  Philippine  Islands 517 

Subic  Port,  Philippine  Islands,  278,  282,  285, 
287  ;  intended  defense  of,  by  the  Spanish,  273; 
plan  for  the  defense  of,  278-282  ;  weakness  of 
the  defenses  of,  281,  282 ;  reconnoitred  by 
the  Boston  and  Concord,  235,  247,  255  ;  tele 
gram  from,  to  Admiral  Montojo,  announc 
ing  Commodore  Dewey 's  movements,  286. 
Sugar,  an  important  production  in  the  Philip 
pines,  528. 

Sultan  of  Turkey,  invites  Flag-Officer  Lavalette, 
of   the    Wabash,  to  visit  him,   144;   is  re 
ceived  on  board  the  Wabash,  144. 
Suwanee,  The,  United  States  steamer  ....    317 
Syracuse,  Prince  of,  visits  the  Wabash 163 


Talcott  family,  prominence  of,   in  Connecticut, 

50,  53. 

Talcott,  Mary,  grandmother  of  George  Dewey, 
53. 

Tappan,  Lieutenant  B.,  of  the  Raleigh 306 

Tarbox,  Betsy 462 

—  Susan  Edson 460 

Tattnall,  Commodore  Josiah 83 

Taucalao,  Philippine  Islands,  Springs  of .  . .   525 

Taylor,  Ensign  M.  M.,  of  the  Olympia 300 

Temple  of  Diana  at  Ephesus,  visited  by  George 
Dewey  in  1886,  188. 

Thersites 15 

Thetford,  Vt 87 

Thomas,  General  Stephen,  speaker  at  the  Mont 
pelier  celebration  of  Dewey's  victory,  391. 

Thor,  Scandinavian  war  god 442 

Ticonderoga,  Fort,  32,  44  ;  Ethan  Allen  at.     36 
Timber,  wealth  of  the  Philippines  in.   530,  531 


558 


GENERAL  INDEX 


Tobacco,  valuable  returns  from  culture  of,  in  the 

Philippines,  528. 

Tokio,   Japan,   Commodore   Dewey's  interview 
with  the  Emperor  and  Empress  at,  193. 

Torington  family 449 

Torpedo  boats,  Spanish,  374;  attack  the 
Olympia,  248,  258 ;  repulsed  by  the  Olym 
pic's  secondary  battery,  321. 
Torpedoes  disregarded  by  Dewey  at  the  Battle 
of  Manila  Bay,  219,  220  ;  secondary  import 
ance  of,  265. 

Tortugas 131 

Tower,  Assistant  Engineer  U.  S.  N.,  one  of  the 

last  to  leave  the  burning  Mississippi,  179. 
Tozer,  Naval  Cadet  C.  M.,  of  the  Baltimore, 
302. 

Trafalgar,  397  ;  Lord  of 16 

Treadwell,  First  Lieutenant  of  Marines  T.  C., 

of  the  Raleigh.  306.      . 
Trenton,  The,  United  States  war  vessel.  .   314 

Trethewy  family 449 

Trieste,  visited  by  George  Dewey 160 

Turkey,  Sultan  of.  visits  the  Wabasli 144 

Twitchell,  Charles  H.,  Stoker  on  the  Raleigh, 
remarks  of,  on  work  below  deck,  370-374. 


U 

Ulloa 

Umfraville,  Lady  Agnes  d' . . 

—  Lady  Alansee  d' 

—  family 

—  Gilbert,  Baron  d' 

—  Lady  Joane  d' 

—  Robert  d' 

—  Sir  Thomas  d' .  .  . 


285 
447 
447 
449 
447 
447 
447 
447 
the 


United  States,  193  ;    dependence  of,  upon 
Navy,  16. 

-  Naval  Academy.      See    NAVAL 


ACADEMY. 

—  Navy,  training  of  officers  in, 


108 


Valetta,    City  of,    Maltese    group,    visited    by 
George  Dewey,  148. 

Valois,  Count  of 444 

Valifuoco,  Bandmaster,  of  the  Olympia...  232 

Vancouver's  Island 317 

Vftndalia,  United  States  war  vessel 313 

Vanderbilt,  United  States  transport 317 

Veimard,    John    L.,    remarks    of,    regarding 

Dewey,  497,  498. 

Velntco,  The,  Spanish  cruiser,  241,  286;    de 
scription  and  crew  of,  309. 
Vermandois,  Albert  L,  Count  de . . . .  444,  446 

—  Herbert  I.,  Count  de 446 

Herbert  II.,  Count  de 440 

—  Herbert  III.,  Count  de 446 

—  Herbert  IV.,  Count  de...  ''445 


Vermandois,  Lady  Isabel  de 444,  446 

—  Otho,  ( 'ount  de 446 

—  Pepin,  Count  de 446 

Vermont,  State  of,  402  ;    motto  of,  engraved  on 

Dewey's  sword,  385 ;  University  of,  47 ; 
homes  of,  40  ;  display  of  products  in  marble 
and  granite  of,  35  ;  resolutions  of  the  legisla 
ture  of,  congratulating  Admiral  Dewey,  his 
officers  and  men,  on  the  victory  at  Manila 
Bay,  392. 

—  State    Historical   Society,    exhibits   of, 
35. 

Victor  Emanuel,  saluted  by  the  Wabash..   156 
Villalobos,   The,   Spanish  gunboat,   description 
and  crew  of,  310. 

Visays,  The 513 

Vothinn,  King  of  the  West  Saxons 442 


w 

Wabash,  The,  United  States  steam  frigate, 
cruise  of,  in  the  Mediterranean,  128-170; 
tabulated  statement  of  routine  work  on,  dur 
ing  Dewey's  first  cruise,  127;  exchanges 
salutations  with  the  United  States  sloop-of- 
war  Macedonian,  139  ;  visited  by  the  Sar 
dinian  admiral,  139  ;  salutes  the  Turkish 
flag  off  Milo,  140  ;  visited  by  the  Admiral  of 
the  French  navy,  144 ;  visited  by  the  United 
States  Minister  to  Turkey,  144;  visited  by 
the  Sultan  of  Turkey  and  high  officials,  144 ; 
in  collision  with  Austrian  bark  at  Alex 
andria,  148 ;  touches  at  Spezia  and  returns 
to  Genoa,  152 ;  salutes  Prince  Napoleon  and 
Victor  Emanuel,  155,  156  ;  visited  at  Civita 
Vecchia  by  United  States  Minister  Stockton 
and  the  United  States  Consul  at  Rome,  163  ; 
visited  by  the  Prince  of  Syracuse  and  the 
Spanish,  Prussian,  and  Sardinian  ministers, 

163  ;   destruction  of  condemned  rations  on, 

164  ;  celebrates  the  eighty-third  anniversary 
of  the  independence  of  the  United  States, 
164  ;  reaches  home  after  an  eighteen-months' 
cruise,  168  ;  inspection  of  the  vessel  and  crew 
by  United  States  officials,  168. 

Walker,  Commander  Asa,  of  the  Concord,  229, 
306  ;  biographical  sketch  of,  318,  319  ;  official 
report  of,  regarding  the  Concord's  share  in 
the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  362,  366;  high 
praise  for  his  officers  and  men,  365. 

-   Rear-Admiral,    remarks    of,    regarding 
Admiral  Dewey,  406,  407. 

Waller,  Acting  Gunner  L.  J.,  of  the  Baltimore, 
302. 

War,  now  carried  on  at  sea,  16  ;  dependence 
upon  navies  in,  16,  17;  of  the  Revolution, 
44;  of  1812,  44;  with  Mexico,  80,  84,  85; 
the  Civil,  84,  85,  170;  Spanish-American, 
19,  21. 


GENERAL  INDEX 


559 


War  ship,    arduous   task    of    stokers  on,   370- 
374 ;  temperature  of,  below  deck,  373,  374 ; 
stokers  overcome  by  heat  on,  374. 
War  with  Spain,  President  McKinley's  procla 
mation  of,  206-208. 

Ward,  Captain  James  H 84 

Warham,  Reverend  John 44,  454 

Washington,  George,  170,  401 ;  celebration  of 
birthday  of,  on  board  the  Wabash  (1859), 
156. 

Watson,  Rear-Admiral  John  C 490,  492 

Wauchusett,  The,  United  States  war  vessel.   317 
Webster,   Daniel,   remark  of,  regarding  Dart 
mouth  College,  80. 

West  Gulf  squadron 171,  315,  317 

—  Indies 317 

Westphalia,  Duke  of 442 

West  Point,  N.  Y 77,  115 

Wettensoll,  Naval  Cadet  I.  Z.,  of  the  Balti 
more,  302. 

White  Mountains,  The 32 

White,  William  R.,  apprentice,  commended  by 
Lieutenant-Commander  Norris  of  the  Boston, 
338. 

Wildes,  Captain  Frank,  of  the  Boston,  229, 
305 ;  biographical  sketch  of,  317,  318  ;  vol 
unteers  to  remain  with  Dewey  after  his 
relief  had  arrived,  251,  252  ;  coolness  of,  at 
the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay,  261,  318  :  official 
report  of,  regarding  the  Boston's  share  in 
the  engagement,  330,  331. 

Wildman,  United  States  Consul  at  Hong-Kong, 
199,  200  ;   advice  of,  regarding   the   return 
of  Aguinaldo  to  the  Philippines,  200. 
Willard,  Mrs.,  school  of,   attended  by  George 
Dewey 's  mother,  53. 

William  of  Normandy 444 

Williams,  United  States  Consul  at  Manila,  206, 
212 ;  leaves  Manila  and  joins  Commodore 
Dewey  at  Mirs  Bay,  208  ;  views  first  engage 
ment  of  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay  from  the 
bridge  of  the  Baltimore,  272 ;  views  the 
second  engagement  from  the  flagship  Olym- 
pia,  272  ;  his  account  of  the  battle,  266,  272  ; 
views  of,  on  the  climate  of  the  Philippines, 
532,  533  (footnote). 


Williams,  First  Lieutenant  of  Marines  D.,  of 
the  Baltimore,  302. 

—  Brigadier-General  Seth,  his  services  in 
the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars,  85. 

Williston,  Brigadier-General  E.  B 85 

Winchester,  Earl  of 445,  446 

—  Roger,   second  Earl  of 447 

Winder,  Lieutenant  W.,  of  the  Raleigh..  .   306 

Windsor,  Conn 455 

Wing,  Ex-Mayor   George  W.,   speaker  at  the 

Montpelier  celebration  of  Dewey 's  victory, 
391. 
Winooski  River 21,  22,  31,  32,  35,  38,  61 

—  Valley,  soil  and  products  of 38 

Wood,  Louis,  schoolmate  of  George  Dewey,  68  ; 

anecdote  of,  regarding  him,  68,  71. 

—  Lieutenant,  of  the  Wabash 139 

Woods,  Commander  E.  P.,  of  the  Petrel,  229 ; 

biographical  sketch  of,  319  ;  fearless  handling 
of  his  vessel  at  the  Battle  of  Manila  Bay, 
262  ;  official  reports  of,  regarding  the  Pet 
rel's  share  in  the  engagement,  348,  362  ;  com 
pletes  the  destruction  of  the  smaller  Spanish 
gunboats,  251. 

Woodward,   John 456 

Wright,  J.  E.,  schoolmate  of  George  Dewey.     68 
Wurtsbaugh,  Naval  Cadet  D.  W.,  of  the  Balti 
more,  302. 
Wyominy,  The,  United  States  steam  sloop .   317 


Yantic,  The,  United  States  war  vessel 318 

Yemans,  Prudence 448,  459 

Yokohama,  Japan,  203,  411 ;  visit  of  Dewey  to, 

193  ;  arrival  of  Dewey  at,  to  take  command 

of  the  Asiatic  squadron,  414. 
Yorktown,  The,  United   States  war  vessel.   318 


Zajiro,  The,  merchant  steamer,  bought  by  Com 
modore  Dewey  for  his  squadron,  205,  230 ; 
position  of,  during  the  Battle  of  Manila 
Bay,  287 ;  cuts  the  cable  from  Manila  to 
Hong-Kong,  244. 

Zamboanga,   Philippine  Islands 517 


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Dewey,  A.M.  D51 

The  life  and  letters     D38 
of  Admiral  Dewey. 


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